If you’re wondering how your credit score affects your mortgage application, it could make all the difference between getting the keys to your dream home and being refused a home loan.
A credit history shows credit card and mortgage companies and other lenders how financially reliable and responsible you are, and give them the information they need before deciding whether to offer you a loan.
Your credit score will be calculated by potential mortgage lenders using the information in your credit report, the personal details (like salary) that you provide and other policy rules to assesses the level of risk involved in lending you the money to buy your home.
If your credit score shows you to be a “good” risk, then you will get the mortgage you are applying for.
Who keeps the info?
In the UK, most people’s information is held by credit agencies, like Experian.
Details held cover credit history, address and anything that could count against you, from bankruptcies to County Court Judgements (CCJs).
How you can get a good credit score
You will help your mortgage application and get the home loan you want if you:
- Pay off all debts on time, covering at least the minimum payment, for more mortgage options
- If you can go one better and pay off your credit card in full each month, you will be doing yourself a favour
- It’s not a bad idea to try and build up a credit history. If you don’t have a credit card or have never borrowed money, you won’t have a credit history. This could even go against you, since no potential lender will be able to forecast your fiscal behaviour. So your application could be rejected. There are even special credit building cards for those with a limited credit history so they can build up their credit score.
Some more tips:
- Use any savings to pay off any outstanding debts before applying for a mortgage. Lenders tend to take into account how much money you owe.
- Avoid having multiple credit card or loans on your credit history, especially within a short period of time. Lenders may well foresee repayment problems. It’s also a good idea to cancel any accounts or cards that you are not using.
- It will help if you have been at your current address for some time, and with the same employer for a while, and if you have a fixed landline rather than a mobile phone number on your application.
If you get rejected once, immediately check the files are right, otherwise you could find other lenders rejecting you as well. Your lender will tell you which credit agency is used to assess your information, so concentrate on that.
Finally, never lie about your credit history when applying for a mortgage. Not only is this a criminal offence, it could have a severe impact on how creditworthy you are deemed to be.
Articles on Money Saving, Making Money & Finance Etc
- Is Life Insurance Worth The Premiums? We Discuss
- A Guide to Creating A Saving Plan That Works
- How minimum wages affect living standards
- The cheapest way of transferring money abroad
- How To Have an Exact Calculation of Your Monthly Mortgage Payment
- Why Updating Your Office Window Treatments will Help Increase Productivity
- Some Fun Ways That You Can Make Money From Home
- How to Find a Loan When Your Savings Fall Short in an Emergency
- Top Effective Ways to Earn More Money Online
- Low-Cost Ways to Start A Home-Based Business
- How to make large profits out of property
- 5 Top Tips For Taking Your Pension Early
- How to Save Money as a Young Family
- Finding the Right Loan Option for Your Lifestyle
- How to Learn from Your Financial Mistakes
- Are Alternative Payment Methods Better Than Traditional Banking?
- How to generate money from your home
- 5 money mistakes to avoid
- How an emergency fund supports your frugal living
- Tips And Tricks To Save Money On A Daily Basis
- 5 Practical Tips for Coping with the Cost-of-living Crisis
- Spending Triggers- What Are They and How Do You Deal with Them?
- How To Save Money And Time Throughout Your Day
- 5 Simple Tips to Create Passive Income At Home
- Getting the most fun for your money
- Use a Credit Report to Get the Best Credit Deals
- How to Keep on Top of your Household Bills
- How Your Credit History Really Affects Your Mortgage
- Save Money when Living Alone
- Green Ways to Save Money in Winter
- Money Saving Tips – Helping Your Home Finance
- Financial Planning – Make a Budget and Take Control
- Reduced Payment Arrangements & Bankruptcy
- Green Investment Opportunities
- Renovating? Don’t let it affect your home insurance
- Headline Interest Rates for ISAs
- A few reasons why you should buy home insurance
- Living on a Budget Need Not be Bad
- 7 Effective Tips for Betting on A Budget
- Budget-Friendly Online Casinos: Where to Play for Less
- Exploring remote games
- Speculate to accumulate: How educated gambling can help you earn money
- Tips to Help You Choose a Gambling Site
- Are Binary Options Investing or Gambling?