29
Sep
By support
Home Mortgage Tips

FICO Scores 101: How to Shop for a New Mortgage Without Harming Your Credit Score

FICO Scores 101: How to Shop for a New Mortgage Without Harming Your Credit ScoreIt’s difficult to begin shopping around for a new mortgage without the facts on how this can affect your FICO score.

Anybody who is holding off for fear that their credit score will be ruined by multiple credit checks has nothing to worry about. Mortgage brokers require this information to give an accurate quote, so many credit checks by different companies will have a miniscule effect on credit scores.

The system has been designed this way because a mortgage is not considered to be ‘bad debt’ by lenders and consumers should have the right to shop around without fear of their credit being destroyed by it.

Understanding The ‘Tiers’ Of Credit Checks

FICO scores are affected each time a credit inquiry is requested to check a borrower’s credit report. This makes sense, as every time somebody searches for new credit they increase their ability to acquire significant debt.

Thankfully, not all credit checks are created equal and they do not affect FICO scores in the same way. A mortgage loan is not considered remotely close to store credit cards, which allow a person to get into more debt. Debts on mortgages only get lower as time goes on, ranking them very low on the list of things lenders consider bad credit.

The One Thing To Know Before Shopping For A New Mortgage

Every time a credit card company or consumer loan company pulls a credit check, the borrower’s FICO score will fall, but this will not happen when multiple mortgage lenders pull the same person’s credit score.

This is because each credit card has the chance to accumulate debt, whereas only one mortgage will be taken out. So once a mortgage lender pulls your credit score, you will only receive one ‘ding’ even if other lenders pull your score afterwards.

Here is the important part: there is only a 14-day window from the first credit check where all other credit inquiries will be ignored. So it is imperative to plan ahead and shop around within a two week period to limit the impact on your FICO score.

Shopping around when looking for a new mortgage is a necessary step to getting the best possible deal, and thankfully the system is designed around not punishing people for doing this. It can be very intimidating to do alone and working with a professional mortgage specialist can relieve stress and get you the best deal on your new mortgage.

If you have any questions please contact your trusted mortgage professional for advice on the right steps to getting your new mortgage. 

24
Sep
By support
Home Mortgage Tips

Looking Ahead: How to Ensure That You Are Taking Full Advantage of Mortgage Tax Credits

Looking Ahead: How to Ensure That You Are Taking Full Advantage of Mortgage Tax CreditsOne of the major benefits to purchasing a home with a mortgage are the tax credits that can be taken advantage of when April 15 comes around.

Many homeowners are unaware of what mortgage related expenses can be deducted and, more importantly, which ones can no longer be deducted.

Receive A Tax Deduction For Interest Paid On The Mortgage

The most common tax credit associated with mortgages is the interest paid credit. This allows borrowers to deduct the cost of the interest paid on their mortgage on their taxes, which in many cases is the largest tax break available to homeowners.

Interest paid deductions on taxes are available to second mortgages as well as first time mortgages and are available on home equity lines of credit as well as home equity loans.

Mortgage Insurance Is No Longer Tax Deductible

Unfortunately, as of 2014 any mortgage insurance paid was no longer considered tax deductible. This came as a shock to many borrowers who planned their finances around receiving the tax credit.

Although mortgage insurance is no longer tax deductible, there are still other home related deductions that can be taken advantage of. Real estate taxes can be deducted the year they are paid and discount points purchased at the time of the sale can also be used as a deduction.

The IRS treats discount points as mortgage interest that is pre-paid and allows deductions on certain loan types.

Using Tax Information To Plan Ahead When Buying A Home

There is a limit imposed by the Internal Revenue Service on how large a loan can be to qualify for an interest paid tax deduction. Any loan that is over $1 million dollars is not allowed to have the interest paid towards it deducted when tax time rolls around.

This knowledge can be used to put the borrower in a beneficial situation in years to come when they plan to purchase a home. Limiting any loan to under $1 million dollars, no matter what the cost of the property, will allow the interest paid into it to be deducted the following year.

The tax laws are always changing and differ from state to state, so it is advised to contact a mortgage specialist with knowledge on mortgage tax laws to provide more information on which deductions you qualify for.

22
Sep
By support
Home Mortgage Tips

Critical Documents That You’ll Need to Have Ready Before Applying for a Mortgage

Five Critical Documents That You'll Need to Have Ready Before Applying for a MortgageIf not done properly, applying for a mortgage can be stressful and time consuming, but with the right preparation the entire process can be seamless. Here are some crucial pieces of information that almost any lender will require before approving a mortgage.

Tax Information From The Previous Two Years

One of the most important documents a borrower will be asked for is their federal tax return along with a signed Form 4506-T, which will allow the lender to contact the IRS directly for their version of the federal tax return to compare to the ones provided. This allows them to examine the documents for any sign of fraud.

Documentation On All Owned Assets

The mortgage lender will require proof of every current asset owned by the borrower. This will include any current real estate titles along with bank and mutual fund statements and documentation on current investments. Don’t be shy, every asset owned is a better sign to the lender.

Documentation On All Owed Debts

On the opposite side of the coin, the mortgage lender will also want to be made aware of any current debt. All debts, from major student loans to miniscule credit card debts, will need to be documented and given to the lender. It’s important to provide information on monthly payments that need to be made, even if it appears insignificant.

Two Years Of W-2s For Employed Borrowers

Almost every lender will require a Form W-2 for the previous business year to see how much income was earned by the borrower. Many will require at least two years’ worth of W-2s to see if the income has been consistent.

Two Years Of 1099s For Self-Employed Borrowers

Alternatively, any self-employed borrowers will be required to provide profit and loss statements to show the current status of their business. Like W-2s, the lender may require documents showing profit and losses for at least two years if the business has been in existence that long.

Having all your documents ready in advance to applying for a mortgage can go a long way to helping the process go smoothly. The documents needed for a mortgage change from person to person depending on their situation, so make sure you speak with a qualified mortgage professional in advance to get a better idea of which documents you will need to supply.