Below are answers to several frequent questions about improving your credit.
Question: You were late with a credit card payment. Can you still get a mortgage?
Answer: Probably yes, although the answer depends on various factors that will be reflected on your credit report. For example, were you late only once and on only one credit card? When you finally made the payment, how much of the balance did you pay down? And so on. I can advise you further regarding your options once I review your credit report and obtain more details from you.
Question: Should you mention your poor credit rating?
Answer: Absolutely! It's always better to be open and honest from the start. There are many ways I can assist first-time buyers who don't have perfect credit – there may even be mortgages designed specifically for people in your situation. But I need to understand your circumstances fully before I can help.
Question: Is there anything you can do to improve your credit?
Answer: Yes. Start by contacting the major credit bureaus to request a copy of your report:
Be sure the report is correct, and fix or clarify any inaccuracies. In addition, stop using your credit cards immediately and pay down your balances as much as possible. See “Improve Your Credit”.
I can be an extremely valuable source of suggestions about how to become a more appealing borrower by cleaning up your credit, so don't hesitate to ask for help.
Question: A relative offered to co-sign your mortgage. Will a lender hold this against you?
Answer: Not necessarily. In fact, if your relative has a more established credit history than you, this may actually improve the strength of your overall loan application, especially if you have a limited experience managing credit or your rating is a little shaky.
Question: Can you get a mortgage even if you don't have enough for a 10% down payment?
Answer: Quite likely. Many mortgage programs such as FHA, VA and other loans designed especially for first-time buyers require much smaller down payments or even none at all. Or a Low and No-Down Payment Loan that covers 95 to 100% of the purchase price might be ideal for you. Ask me about these and other options.
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