Homebuying Tips on Credit and Credit Scores


Book Description

This Element is an excerpt from Homebuyers Beware: Who’s Ripping You Off Now?--What You Must Know About the New Rules of Mortgage and Credit (ISBN: 9780137020164) by Carolyn Warren. Available in print and digital formats. The new rules of credit: what you need to know--and do--to get credit today! For many years, it seemed as if anyone could get credit--and they did. Well, we know how that turned out! In the fall of 2008, that house of cards came crashing down. Today, credit is king. What do you need to know about good credit in the new credit era?




The Smart Consumer's Guide to Good Credit


Book Description

Most credit books promise quick fixes and easy solutions to bad credit, but the truth is there is no quick fix when it comes to credit. Your best strategy as a smart consumer is to understand your credit inside and out. Credit expert John Ulzheimer can give you all the tools you need to master the world of credit, before or after you get into trouble, and take the power back into your own hands. Topics covered include: • The difference between a credit score and a credit report • The best way to deal with collection agencies • How to monitor your credit report • Protecting yourself from identity theft • The impact of student loans on your credit score • How to opt out of unwanted credit card offers The Smart Consumer’s Guide to Good Credit answers all of your questions about credit (including the ones you didn’t even know you should be asking!) and yes, even explains the best ways to work toward improving a bad credit score.




Credit Scores and You


Book Description

"Credit Scores and You" is the definitive guide on how to create, maintain, or repair your credit score. Knowing how to get your credit score over 700 and to keep it there can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the course of your lifetime. The book is the result of the author's desire to give financial direction and inspiration to his two sons as they grew into young adults. His career in lending and the financial world has provided a keen understanding of what is required to build a solid financial base, and how vitally important an excellent credit score has become in business, and in day-to-day life. It shares real life experiences, and provides information on getting started in finances, handling money, and how to build your credit history. Learning about trade lines, the credit scoring system, and when to consider various loan products is discussed. How your credit history impacts what you do and what it can cost you over time is the essence of this subject. A good credit score involves much more than what it will cost for a particular loan product. Your credit score is considered when you apply for a job, when you are looking for housing, and how the insurance company views you as customer. That simple three-digit number has become more profound since the mid 1990's than ever before. Your credit score will determine whether or not you are approved for a loan product. In many cases it will also dictate how much you will pay in interest rates and fees. Excellent credit scores will open many more doors and save you money. A good credit score will also help you when applying for a job. Many employers will run a credit check along with a background check before they will consider a candidate for employment. High or low credit scores are considered a reflection on how an applicant may perform on the job. Insurance companies have their own methods for determining risk, and charge insurance premiums based on that data. Credit scores in recent years have become one of the factors that they look at on an insurance application. High or low credit scores can be one of the determining factors in what they charge. Having an understanding of the importance of a great credit score should not be underestimated. 'Credit Scores and You' will give the reader an excellent basis for getting on the right track toward financial wellness.




Home Buying For Dummies


Book Description

Now updated — America's #1 bestselling home-buying book! Want to buy a house, but concerned about the market? Have no fear — this trusted guide arms you with Eric Tyson and Ray Brown's time-tested advice and updated strategies for buying a home in current market conditions. You'll discover how to find the right property, make smart financial decisions, and understand the latest lending requirements and tax implications. New to this edition — new and expanded coverage to help homebuyers take advantage of low home prices, understand the subprime mortgage crisis, obtain a mortgage, and improve credit scores To buy or not to buy? — weigh the advantages of owning versus renting, get your finances in order, and know how much house you can safely afford Handle financing — understand your credit rating, navigate the different types of mortgages, and complete all paperwork Play the real estate game — find the right location and property, assemble an all-star real estate team, and make the most of the Internet's real estate resources Let's make a deal — negotiate with finesse, make successful offers, inspect and protect your new home, and cover all your bases in escrow "Invaluable information, especially for the first-time home buyer." —Fort Worth Star-Telegram "A reference you'll turn to time after time." —St. Petersburg Times Open the book and find: Reasons why home prices rise and fall Hands-on instruction for buying a home in up or down markets How to pay the price you want The best mortgage options A sample home-buying contract Pros and cons of comparable market analysis Tips for overcoming mortgage and appraisal problems How to cope with buyer's remorse The best real estate Web sites







The Complete Guide to a Higher Credit Score


Book Description

Annotation: How would you like to buy your dream home and improve your credit at the same time? Now you can! Get the inside scoop on what the experts already know - the top secrets to improving your credit score with the best mortgage and no closing costs. When it comes to getting the best real estate mortgages, your credit score is everything. That means you need a plan of action that will provide you with the right mortgage and the best possible credit score within the shortest period of time.




The Unofficial Guide to Buying a Home


Book Description

The inside scoop . . .for when you want more than the official line No matter what your budget and taste, finding the perfect home is a daunting task. How do you even know where to start? Here you'll find the inside scoop on every step of the homebuying process-from calculating your budget to negotiating the deal and handling the closing. The Unofficial Guide to Buying a Home, Second Edition gives savvy consumers like you a foolproof appraisal of which homebuying strategies work and which don't. This updated edition is perfect for first-time homebuyers and includes new information on using the Internet to find your home, buying condos, and utilizing government funding programs. It walks you through the entire homebuying process: from searching for a home, to making an offer, through the inspection, and on to the closing, you can be confident that your investment is sound. The guide also offers expanded coverage of the monetary issues involved in purchasing a home, including new means of determining creditworthiness and new types of available loans, as well as helping you decide how much home you can-and should-purchase. Vital Information that other sources can't or won't reveal-from what really motivates sellers, brokers, loan officers, and other key players in the homebuying game, to how to work most effectively with your agent. Insider Secrets on how to make real estate law work in your favor. Money-Saving Techniques that show you how to take advantage of tax breaks and how to time your search to exploit seasonal variations in the market. Time-Saving Tips on streamlining the homebuying process so you find the home you want as quickly as possible. The Latest Trends in homebuying, including up-to-date tips on using the Internet to find your home, a realtor, or a mortgage. Handy Checklists and Charts to help you determine your budget and stick to it.




Home Buying Kit For Dummies


Book Description

America's #1 bestselling home buying guide Are you looking to buy a house, but don't quite know where to begin? Have no fear! This new edition of Home Buying Kit For Dummies arms you with Eric Tyson and Ray Brown's time-tested advice and strategies for buying a home in current market conditions. Packed with valuable tips for getting the best deal on your new home and navigating an ever-changing housing market, it shows you how to find the right property, make smart financial decisions, and understand the latest lending requirements and tax implications. Thanks to looser lending standards, lower down payment mortgages, and a wider selection of homes to choose from, first-time homebuyers are making a comeback in the housing market. But if you don't know a Colonial from a counter offer, the process of buying a home can be daunting. Luckily, this bestselling guide is here to take the confusion out of the process! In plain English, it provides step-by-step guidance for buying the home of your dreams, from inspecting a property to evaluating a location to making sense of loan applications, tax documents, and counter offer forms. Negotiate your best deal and obtain a lower down payment mortgage Improve your credit score Make sense of changing lending standards Take the confusion out of lending laws, mortgage rates, and marketplace conditions Whether you're a renter, investor, or current homeowner, everything you need to plant roots in a new home sweet home is just a page away.




Homebuyer Rollercoaster


Book Description

A real estate expert’s guide to taking control of the process to minimize stress—and maximize equity. Many of us want to stop throwing away money on rent—but buying a home can be an emotional rollercoaster, especially for first-timers. Homebuyer Rollercoaster helps readers navigate the ups and downs of buying a home while also helping them to save money and keep their sanity. Monica Benitez uses her real estate expertise to help homebuyers achieve their goal of owning a home, even if they’ve been told it’s not possible. Within Homebuyer Rollercoaster, readers learn how to: · Select the right home for themselves and their family by learning to dominate the homebuying process · Create their Homebuyer Blueprint, which will help them reach their desired outcome · Budget with down payments and closing costs Monica Benitez draws on more than twenty years of experience with both residential and commercial real estate to help you make the process less overwhelming—and make your investment more rewarding.




Home Buying Kit For Dummies


Book Description

Provides advice for first time home buyers on financing, working with a real estate agent, appraisals, negotiations, closing procedures, and related matters.