Credit is important when it comes to buying a home. Unless you are a cash buyer, you're going to have to qualify for a loan. Being able to qualify is determined by a number of factors, and certain lenders use different criteria. But all of them are going to look at your credit report and credit score to see your credit history and determine how likely you are to be able to pay your bills, including the mortgage.
For anyone coming in with little understanding of credit, there are several places to go to get the basics. I personally use Credit Karma as a free way to keep on top of my credit reports. I like them because they provide information that is updated regularly by two of the three major credit bureau. In an age of cyber security, hacking, and identity theft it is awesome that the Government has taken steps to help people access their credit report free once a year... but I personally don't feel like that is enough for me.
So, even though I have to deal with their partner ads, it's a minor inconvenience to me to have the access at my finger tips. (NOTE: Credit Karma provides no compensation or partnership benefit to me, I simply use their app myself and like it).
Remember though, Credit Karma, or other similar apps or sites, are just tools to use. Information may not always be updated or 100% accurate.
Now... back to your credit score.
Your Credit Score gives an overall picture of your credit worthiness, which is a big factor in determining if you will be approved for a loan (any loan...car, home, line of credit...). So understanding what it is, how it works, and how it's factored on a basic level is a good idea.
Enter the below video, published as part of a series to help people understand credit better. You can click through to the MyFICO page if you want to take a look at any of their other educational videos.
For anyone coming in with little understanding of credit, there are several places to go to get the basics. I personally use Credit Karma as a free way to keep on top of my credit reports. I like them because they provide information that is updated regularly by two of the three major credit bureau. In an age of cyber security, hacking, and identity theft it is awesome that the Government has taken steps to help people access their credit report free once a year... but I personally don't feel like that is enough for me.
So, even though I have to deal with their partner ads, it's a minor inconvenience to me to have the access at my finger tips. (NOTE: Credit Karma provides no compensation or partnership benefit to me, I simply use their app myself and like it).
Remember though, Credit Karma, or other similar apps or sites, are just tools to use. Information may not always be updated or 100% accurate.
Now... back to your credit score.
Your Credit Score gives an overall picture of your credit worthiness, which is a big factor in determining if you will be approved for a loan (any loan...car, home, line of credit...). So understanding what it is, how it works, and how it's factored on a basic level is a good idea.
Enter the below video, published as part of a series to help people understand credit better. You can click through to the MyFICO page if you want to take a look at any of their other educational videos.
Comments
Post a Comment