FAQ's

The most widely use credit scores are FICO scores, which were developed by Fair Isaac Company, Inc. Your score will fall between 350 (high risk) and 850 (low risk). Because your credit report is an important part of many credit scoring systems, it is very important to make sure it's accurate before you submit a credit application.

To get copies of your report, contact the three major credit reporting agencies:

Equifax: (800) 685-1111
Experian (formerly TRW): (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742)
Trans Union: (800) 916-8800

These agencies may charge you up to $9.00 for your credit report. You are entitled to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies. This free credit report may not contain your credit score and can be requested through the following website: https://www.annualcreditreport.com

FICO scoring models generally evaluate the following types of information in your credit report:

• Have you paid your bills on time? Payment history typically is a significant factor. It is likely that your score will be affected negatively if you have paid bills late, had an account referred to collections, or declared bankruptcy, if that history is reflected on your credit report.

• What is your outstanding debt? Many scoring models evaluate the amount of debt you have compared to your credit limits. If the amount you owe is close to your credit limit, that is likely to have a negative effect on your score.

• How long is your credit history? Generally, models consider the length of your credit track record. An insufficient credit history may have an effect on your score, but that can be offset by other factors, such as timely payments and low balances.

• Have you applied for new credit recently? Many scoring models consider whether you have applied for credit recently by looking at "inquiries" on your credit report when you apply for credit. If you have applied for too many new accounts recently, that may negatively affect your score. However, not all inquiries are counted. Inquiries by creditors who are monitoring your account or looking at credit reports to make "prescreened" credit offers are not counted.

• How many and what types of credit accounts do you have? Although it is generally good to have established credit accounts, too many credit card accounts may have a negative effect on your score. In addition, many models consider the type of credit accounts you have. For example, under some scoring models, loans from finance companies may negatively affect your credit score. Scoring models may be based on more than just information in your credit report. For example, the model may consider information from your credit application as well: your job or occupation, length of employment, or whether you own a home. To improve your credit score under most models, concentrate on paying your bills on time, paying down outstanding balances, and not taking on new debt. It's likely to take some time to improve your score significantly

Social media marketing is the use of social media platforms and websites to promote a product or service. Most of these social media platforms have their own built-in data analytics tools, which enable companies to track the progress, success, and engagement of ad campaigns. Companies address a range stakeholders through social media marketing including current and potential customers, current and potential employees, journalists, bloggers, and the general public. On a strategic level, social media marketing includes the management of the implementation of a marketing campaign, governance, setting the scope and the establishment of a firm's desired social media "culture" and "tone".

Surprising as it may seem, some folks with hefty incomes find that it’s mighty tough for them to save enough money to make a 20% cash down payment on their dream homes. Using conventional financing, such buyers must purchase Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) which increases the cost of home ownership and, ironically, makes it even more difficult to qualify for the mortgage.

However, if you’re a dues-paying member of the cash-challenged class, don’t despair. Given that your income is sufficiently high, it’s eminently possible to avoid getting stuck with PMI. That is why 80-10-10 financing was invented. It is called 80-10-10 because a savings and loan association, bank, or other institutional lender provides a traditional 80% first mortgage, you get a 10% second mortgage, and make a cash down payment equal to 10% of the home’s purchase price.

By using this method, you are no longer obligated to take out PMI on your property. The same principle applies if you can only afford to make a 5% down, 80-15-5 financing is also available. However, because a smaller cash down payment increases the lender’s risk of default, do not be surprised when you are asked to pay higher loan fees and a higher mortgage interest rate for 80-15-5 than you pay for 80-10-10.

WHAT ARE POINTS?

It is an upfront cash payment required by the lender as part of the charge for the loan, expressed as a percent of the loan amount; e.g., “2 points” means a charge equal to 2% of the loan balance.

WHAT IS A JUMBO MORTGAGE?

A jumbo mortgage is any mortgage financing amount larger than the maximum eligible for conforming purchase by the two federal agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

WHAT IS A CONFORMING LOAN?

A loan eligible for purchase by the two major federal agencies that buy mortgages, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

WHAT IS A GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE?

It is the list of settlement charges that the lender is obliged to provide the borrower within three business days of receiving the loan application.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER TYPES OF LOANS?

Stated income/verified assets: Income is disclosed and the source of the income is verified, but the amount is not verified. Assets are verified, and must meet an adequacy standard such as, for example, 6 months of stated income and 2 months of expected monthly housing expense.

Stated income/stated assets:

Both income and assets are disclosed but not verified. However, the source of the borrower’s income is verified.

No ratio:

Income is disclosed and verified but not used in qualifying the borrower. The standard rule that the borrower’s housing expense cannot exceed some specified percent of income is ignored. Assets are disclosed and verified.

No income:

Income is not disclosed, but assets are disclosed and verified, and must meet an adequacy standard.

Stated Assets or No asset verification:

Assets are disclosed but not verified, income is disclosed, verified and used to qualify the applicant.

No asset:

Assets are not disclosed, but income is disclosed, verified, and used to qualify the applicant.

No income/no assets:

Neither income nor assets are disclosed.

WHAT IS A FULL DOCUMENTED LOAN?

Both income and assets are disclosed and verified, and income is used in determining the applicant’s ability to repay the mortgage. Formal verification requires the borrower’s employer to verify employment and the borrower’s bank to verify deposits. Alternative documentation, designed to save time, accepts copies of the borrower’s original bank statements, W-2s and paycheck stubs.

WILL I SAVE MONEY GOING DIRECTLY TO A MORTGAGE LENDER?

Not necessarily. In fact, if you are a reasonably astute shopper, you will probably do better dealing with a mortgage broker. Mortgage brokers do not add any net cost to the lending process, because they perform functions that would otherwise have to be done by employees of the lender.

Furthermore, because mortgage brokers deal with multiple lenders — in a typical case, 25 to 30, sometimes more — they can shop for great terms available on any given day. In addition, they can find the mortgage financing lenders who specialize in various market niches that many other lenders avoid, such as loans to applicants with poor credit ratings, loans to borrowers who do not intend to occupy the property, loans with minimal or no down payment, and so on.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MORTGAGE BROKER AND A LENDER?

A mortgage broker counsels you on the loans available from different mortgage financing wholesalers, takes your application, and usually processes the loan, which involves putting together the complete file of information about your transaction including the credit report, appraisal, verification of your employment and assets, and so on. When the file is complete, but sometimes sooner, the lender “underwrites” the loan, which means deciding whether or not you are an acceptable risk and receive mortgage approval. WHAT IS A RATE LOCK? A rate lock is a contractual agreement between the lender and buyer. There are four components to a rate lock: loan program, interest rate, points, and the length of the lock.