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Monday, November 24 2014

For anyone who has looked into to buying a home several times—but kept getting discouraged every time because of a negative credit report—read on!

You probably already know that you are not alone—but so what?—it’s small consolation, especially when you consider how much financial ground you lose every year you continue to pay rent (the entire amount of which has zero tax deductibility). Many people mishandle credit in their teens and 20s, not knowing how it can come back to bite them when credit reports determine their credit worthiness. We see the fallout in the form of mortgage application turndowns or discouraging interest rate proposals.

But that just makes it all the more important that you stop letting past errors continue to keep you from getting the loans and rates you want. You can choose to take action now to clean up that credit score. Not only will it speed the moment when you become eligible for the significant benefits of home ownership—the actions you take now will serve to set you in the driver seat when it comes to credit management. You will become aware of any apparently minor oversights that can depress your credit score for years to come. It will put you ‘in the game’ of credit report management, instead of continuing to be a passive outsider.

Steps consumers can take now:  

Review your credit file for accurate information

The credit reporting bureaus’ job is to report the most accurate information possible, but in the past the Federal Trade Commission has found that 5% of reports have at least one mistake. Get your current credit report from any number of services (start with a free one: you can always subscribe to a paid service later). Check all the accounts and verify that the amounts reported and the account statuses are correct. If a creditor reported your information incorrectly, file a dispute through the credit bureaus’ online sites to get the inaccuracy fixed. The same FTC report says that 13% of consumers who reported an error saw a boost in their credit score.

Get old negative accounts removed

Credit reports carry negative information like missed payments or a collection account for seven years, but are required to delete it after that. If an account is lingering past the seven year mark, use the dispute tools available on credit bureaus’ websites to mark the account as too old for reporting. Note that the seven-year time period is calculated from the date of first delinquency, not the date the account was first opened.

Talk to collection companies about their input

Even when you pay off collection accounts, that history continues to hurt your credit score. Some lenders look solely at those details when starting the process, so even paid collections can disqualify you for a loan. Instead of dealing with this frustrating problem, while you are negotiating with collection agencies to pay off a debt, ask that they put in writing that they will remove their report as part of their part of the bargain for your satisfaction of the debt. Some agencies will and some won’t (but it can’t hurt to ask).

Once you have acted, and begun to see the negatives dropping off your current credit report, your path to local home ownership will open up markedly. Then it’s time to give me a call!  You can reach me on my cell phone: 812-499-9234 or email:Rolando@RolandoTrentini.com 

Posted by: Rolando Trentini AT 12:00 pm   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Friday, January 10 2014

It can take years for first-time buyers to save up for their first home’s down payment, but even after that hurdle has been cleared, it can take even more time to secure a mortgage -- if they have neglected the other part of the equation. Their credit rating.

Before first-time buyers in Evansville will be able to move forward with that initial home purchase, they need to ensure that their credit score does not raise the kind of questions that sometimes derails an otherwise well-qualified home loan applicant. This has always been true, but may become even more likely as lending limitations grow increasingly strict.  

But it’s the occasional recording error or misstatement that is most easily preventable. Ironically, those often affect perfectly well-qualified buyers—precisely because they have no reason to suspect that a problem could crop up.

The upshot: first time buyers should start reviewing their credit history one year to six months before they intend to buy a home. Since the credit agencies provide upon request free copies of every individual’s report once each year, the only hassle is having to check the details line-by-line (a single reporting error can have a big impact on an overall score). And since it’s not unusual to take 90 days or more to cure a disputed entry, the earlier a first-time buyer begins the process, the better. Individuals can file a dispute online with the credit bureaus, or can hire a credit repair company to assist with disputes. In all cases, claims should be documented and correct information provided immediately.   

Once a first-time buyer is certain that his or her reports are accurate, is it time to relax? Hardly. It’s important to continue to monitor those scores to ensure against accidental surprises. Especially, after wholesale credit card thefts sowed confusion and disruption throughout the system, it’s probably wise to assume nothing. Several online services offer credit monitoring (and it’s possible that your bank might provide free monitoring).

From first-time buyers to seasoned investors, I’m here to help my clients every step of the way. Call me today! You can reach me on my cell phone 812-499-9234 or email Rolando@RolandoTrentini.com

Posted by: Rolando Trentini AT 08:00 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
Monday, September 12 2011

by Tom Quinn

Maureen from San Diego wrote in asking for help regarding a challenging situation—a family member needs a favor, but one that can potentially hurt her credit score.

Her brother lost his job about a year ago and has subsequently fallen behind on his mortgage payments. On top of that, the value of the property has dropped by about 35% since the home was purchased, and is now worth far less than what is currently owed. Despite attempts to find a work-around, the situation has reached a point where foreclosure is imminent.

Maureen’s brother has started the process of searching for new housing, but is concerned about his chances of being approved for a rental as he was surprised to learn that many landlords pull a credit bureau report and score as part of the applicant review process. His credit score is already very low, as his missed payments on his mortgage and other credit accounts over the past year are already reflected in his credit report.

[Article: How Credit Inquiries Affect Your Credit Score]

Maureen’s brother has asked if she would be the primary on the rental application given she has good credit (credit scores above 720) and has a better chance of being approved—while he would actually make the rental payments. Maureen wants to help, but has concerns doing this could have a negative impact on her credit rating.

Unfortunately, this situation is becoming more commonplace as the number of people in duress with their mortgage continues to remain at record levels. As family members, it’s natural to want to help and provide the best support you can, and yet it is equally important to think carefully about potential short- and long-term ramifications these actions could have on your own financial profile.

The impact on Maureen’s credit report/score if she were to sign a rental lease would likely be minimal. There may be a small number of points lost due to the credit inquiry that is posted on her file when the landlord pulls her credit report. Right now, it is relatively uncommon that the payment history (positive or negative) for rent to be reported to the three national credit reporting agencies. However, the rental entity could opt to turn over a severely delinquent renter to a collection agency, and that could end up being reported and would be considered negative by the credit score.

[Featured Product: Monitor your Credit Reports and Scores]

If your name is on the lease, it would be posted to your credit bureau report. In addition, there are other smaller credit reporting agencies that may be capturing such information and a lender may access it when reviewing your application for credit.

It is important to note that the person signing the rental contract is legally liable for making the payments, regardless of any informal agreement one may have with a family member regarding who will actually be paying the rent (this holds true for roommates, as well). That could have ramifications if you’re seeking new credit in the future. For example, completing an application for credit usually requires you disclose all of your monthly debt obligations and your signature on that application indicates you have truthfully disclosed that information. One could argue that disclosure of the monthly rental amount should be included if you are legally responsible for the lease.

The mixing of family and financial matters can be a recipe for angst and frustration. When surfaced, it is a best practice to carefully review and understand potential ramifications before making any decisions that could have unintended consequences.

[Resource: Get your free Credit Report Card]

Source: http://www.credit.com/blog/2011/08/credit-score-dont-signing-an-apartment-lease-on-behalf-of-someone-else/

Posted by: Rolando Trentini AT 08:00 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Monday, July 18 2011

Beginning on July 21, consumers who are rejected by lenders for new lines of credit, such as a credit card or home loan, based on their credit score will be allowed to find out why, according to a report from CBS News. When consumers are denied, the financial institution will have to provide them with a free copy of the credit score it used to determine their ineligibility. Previously these reports would have cost consumers a small amount of money to view.

[Consumer Resource: Tips to Improve and Rebuild Your Credit]

This rule is also being extended to cover all consumers who are granted the line of credit but given interest rates that are less than ideal, the report said. In addition, the lender will have to explain what portion of the consumers’ credit history was weighing down their rating.

The large majority of a consumer’s credit score is made up of the payment history and the amount of available credit being used across all accounts. Altogether, these two factors alone make up 65 percent of a total rating. As a consequence, it is of the utmost importance to keep credit card spending under control and make regular on-time payments.

[Free Tool: Not sure where you stand credit wise? Get your Free Credit Report Card to find out.]

Source: http://www.credit.com/blog/2011/07/federal-credit-score-law-will-take-effect-next-week/

Posted by: Rolando Trentini AT 08:00 am   |  Permalink   |  0 Comments  |  Email
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The Trentini Team
F.C. Tucker EMGE REALTORS®
7820 Eagle Crest Bvd., Suite 200
Evansville, IN 47715
Office: (812) 479-0801
Cell: (812) 499-9234
Email: Rolando@RolandoTrentini.com


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