New Year Resolutions: Buy Your Dream Home in 2024
As the new year dawns, it is a good time to commit to new goals and resolutions for the year. Financially, you might want to improve your credit scores, repay old debts, increase your savings and even plan to become a homeowner. Lower credit scores can influence mortgage options in an adverse way, though many are unaware of it.
There are many ways to achieve a better credit score and become a proud owner of your dream home. Let us focus on these New Year resolutions that can help you buy your dream home this year.
1. Review your credit reports and score
Even before you plan to improve your credit scores, first check your credit reports and make a list of errors, if any. This might be time-consuming if you have a vast credit history. Use information from credit reporting agencies to check the accuracy of your credit reports.
You can get a free copy of your credit report by going to www.AnnualCreditReport.com. This site is an initiative mandating that 3 major credit reporting agencies allow consumer free access to their credit report once every 12 months. I accentuate the word “free” here because there are several other websites with similar names, which are not free at all; this is where you want to go.
2. Dispute credit errors
If there are any errors or inaccuracies in your credit report, you can dispute it based on the Fair Credit Reporting Act with credit reporting bureaus. Credit reporting errors can inevitably destroy your creditscore.
IND Mortgage LLC offers free consultation on how to address credit report errors, improve your credit score, and allow you more mortgage options as a result.
3. Save money for down payment
Every mortgage requires you to have some skin in the game. The larger the down payment, the more options available to you. Find ways to cut down your expenses. Be mindful to purchase sale or generic items. Opt for one less night out and cook a home meal or rent a movie. Try making do with that aging car or television for one or two more years. Consider waiting on that vacation trip. Soon those savings will add up to a sizeable down payment towards your new home.
4. Use old credit accounts
Old credit accounts can improve your credit score, so you need to keep them active. Use them periodically, and keep them in good standing. If the creditor offers to increase your credit limit, accept, but don’t necessarily draw on it. Do not close any credit lines, even if you don’t feel you need them. Having unused credit translates to higher credit limits, and improves your credit score.
5. Pay your bills on time
This should go without saying…Pay your bills on time. An established trend of on-time bill payments, demonstrates that you are a good credit risk. On-time payments can considerably improve your credit scores and as a result increase the options of home loans that you can be eligible for.
I hope you found these tips useful to help you achieve financial security. If your goal is to buy your dream home, feel free to contact me for more resourceful information.
Pauline Lee | pauline@indmortgage.com | (508) 525-5415
* Specific loan program availability and requirements may vary. Please get in touch with your mortgage advisor for more information.