If you are thinking about purchasing a home a good credit score is a must.  Depending on how you think your credit is and where you are in the buying process determines your next steps.  If you are buying in the near future, your loan officer will be able to check your credit for you and will determine if you need to do anything to improve your score or not.  If you are not buying right away or are unsure as to how your credit looks you may want to get a free copy of your credit report and also work on improving your credit score before going to a mortgage banker.

AnnualCreditReport.com is the site to go to once a year to check your credit report and it is free of charge.  It is a good idea to check it yearly just to make sure the information is current and correct, even credit bureaus make mistakes.

If you are just looking to increase your credit score there are a few simple things you can do to bring it up.

• Pay your bills on time, no late payments on any bills at any time and pay your bills in full if possible
• Pay all your bills on time including credit cards, medical bills, student loans, utility bills, all bills
• Keep your credit card balances low, credit reports like to see no more than 30% of your limit on your card being used, if you have a higher balance and pay it, that is fine but it may ding your score a bit, maybe try getting a higher limit
• Don’t open lots of different credit cards with stores, gas station and other places, keep the number of cards to a minimum and pay them off each month if possible

This may seem like basic information, but it is always surprising how many people have poor credit scores and don’t know why. Follow these tips to get your score up to par.

You have decided you are ready to purchase a home, what do you need to do?  One of the most important steps is to find out from a loan officer how much house you can afford by getting pre-qualified or pre-approved.  There is no point in looking at homes if you don’t know your budget and if you want to submit an offer you need to prove that you will be good for the purchase price.  I required that all of my buyer clients are pre-approved before we go out looking.  If you don’t have a lender I work with several very good lenders that I can refer you to. (more…)

One question that comes up so often is – Do you need a buyers agent?  The answer is definitely, yes!  I am not just saying this because I am a realtor, there are many reasons that buyers need representation and remember that when you are buying the realtor is paid for by the seller, so it is a free service for you!

You could just work with the listing agent for the property you would like to buy, but remember that the listing agent is working for the seller and has the seller’s best interest in mind, not yours.  They can represent and guide you but will you really be getting the same service as you would with your own buyer’s agent?  As a buyer, if you really want someone to look out for you and and only your interest, you need your own buyer’s agent.  Your buyer’s agent will be knowledgeable about your needs, they will negotiate on your behalf and focus on everything that will represent you! (more…)