Real Estate Information

Credit Help: Buying Real Estate -- Not the Same as Buying Cars


Credit for Buying Real Estate is Different than Credit for Buying Cars

Forget what you've been told about credit.

You may be shocked at some of these tips because this information runs contrary to what other so called experts tell you. Qualifying for a real estate purchase requires different credit than automobile financing or retail credit.

Common Credit Myths

1. You need to pay off your credit cards
2. You need to close credit accounts
3. You need perfect or good credit to buy a house

Credit Facts

1. Paying off your credit cards lowers your credit score
2. Closing credit accounts lowers your credit score
3. You don't need perfect credit to buy real estate

Why not pay off credit cards? Because paid off credit cards do not compute in your credit score. Real estate lenders like to see open, active accounts with low balances.

Why not close accounts? Closing accounts before the payoff often costs consumers more money because credit card companies raise interest on closed accounts.

You can buy real estate with poor credit, but you will save thousands in loan costs if you maintain good credit. A bad credit report leaves homebuyers with sub-prime loans which have higher point charges, prepayment penalties, and higher interest charges, which therefore cost more money. For instance, a mortgage loan of $150,000, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, interest rate of about 5.72 percent costs around $870 a month; poor credit scores raise the interest rate over 9 percent and the payments over $1,200.

As you see from these payment differences, good credit means that you can finance a more expensive house with the same income, or save $330 each month.

Credit Requirements for Mortgages

Credit needed to buy real estate is not the same as good credit. Besides your credit score, mortgage lenders consider your debt-to-income ratio and other credit matters, unlike other credit grantors. Your debt-to-income ratio is the comparison of mortgage payment, including taxes, interest, and insurance to your total gross monthly income. Real estate lenders also consider your employment qualifications and your overall debt ratios.

Understanding the difference between good credit and the credit needed to obtain real estate financing helps you buy houses!

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm


MORE RESOURCES:

German Stocks Drop; Hypo Real Estate, Continental, E.ON Fall
Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
Hypo Real Estate Holding AG and Continental AG dropped at least 2 percent after Deutsche Boerse AG said the companies’ shares will be removed from the ...
Salzgitter, Beiersdorf to join German DAX-30 Index The Associated Press
Salzgitter, Beiersdorf to join Germany's DAX index Forbes
German Stocks Erase Gains; Hypo Real Estate, Continental Drop Bloomberg
Bloomberg - Bloomberg
all 80 news articles


Cousins Properties to Present at the 12th Annual Wachovia Global ...
MarketWatch - 1 hour ago
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008, Cousins Properties Incorporated is a leading diversified real estate company with extensive experience in ...
Kite Realty Group Trust to Present at 12th Annual Wachovia Global ... MarketWatch
all 14 news articles


Four Industry Greats Form National Real Estate Consulting Firm ...
MarketWatch - 4 hours ago
NEW YORK, Dec 04, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Real estate industry giants Henry Gallin, Michael Glick, Frank Sullivan and Ray O'Keefe announced the formation of ...


International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) to Host European ...
MarketWatch - 14 hours ago
Austria has developed into a major European centre of real estate and financial transactions. It seemed most appropriate for FIABCI to hold its European ...


ERA Pacesetter closes real estate business
Bizjournals.com, NC - 21 hours ago
One of Greater Nashville’s largest residential real estate firms — ERA Pacesetter Partners — is closing up shop, the latest casualty of tough economic times ...


Nokomis Real Estate Ventures LLC files bankruptcy petition
Bizjournals.com, NC - Dec 3, 2008
Nokomis Real Estate Ventures LLC filed a petition in Tampa federal court seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company does business as the Nokomis Inn ...


Real Estate Pain on Tap for Smaller Banks
TheStreet.com - 1 hour ago
This is the second story of a two-part look at banks that could suffer from their exposure to commercial real estate and construction loans. ...


Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc. Announces ...
MarketWatch - Dec 3, 2008
... in the markets for its portfolio securities, and in particular, common and preferred stocks issued by Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs"). ...
Marshall to raise $500m for Russian real estate PrivateEquityRealEstate.com
Marshall Capital Partners launches new $500 million fund for ... WebWire (press release)
all 9 news articles


Sify

Keepin' It Real Estate: Treasury Tries to Re-Inflate Housing Bubble
Minyanville.com, New York - 4 hours ago
A protracted period of stabilization will ensue, during which time the opportunity to purchase high-quality residential real estate below its long-term ...
The real estate industry gets a favor from Bernanke Todays Financial News
See Your $800 Billion and Raise You $7 Trillion Smartmoney.com
Sector Snap: Toll 4Q, mortgage rates lift builders Forbes
Washington Post - Boston Globe
all 598 news articles


Reuters

China's CIC appoints real estate fund head -sources
Reuters - 13 hours ago
Besides real estate funds, Zhou's team is also responsible for CIC's direct investments and non-real estate private equity funds. ...
Seabreeze's Kass favors US stocks over Treasuries Reuters
RPT-UPDATE 1-Ex-UBS China chief to head CIC unit -source Reuters
UPDATE 1-Macquarie cuts Discover Financial to underperform Reuters
Reuters - Reuters
all 1,909 news articles

Real-Estate - Google News

home | site map
© 2006