By Billy Cleary


If you are hoping to purchase a home, think carefully before spending money on non-necessities. Every penny you spend on impulse purchases and unnecessary luxuries increases the barrier between you and home ownership. Financially savvy individuals know to limit spending to a level below their income and as a result tend to have great credit, a requirement for the mortgage application process.

Given the recent financial crisis that occurred, more and more lenders are now tightening their requirements. In fact, most lenders and financial institutions nowadays prefer to lend money only to good borrowers or people with good credit scores.

The way banks verify if you are a responsible financial lender or not is by checking your credit score. Struggling with bad credit can only mean you are definitely going to struggle with a harsh mortgage and a bigger down payment.

Conversely, responsible borrowers - as determined by the credit score test - typically enjoy better loan terms, including lower fees and better interest rates. Lenders may also allow for a higher borrowing limit for the very best scores.

While credit scores are important, you should remember that they are not the only basis for the approval of your home mortgage loan. Banks and other lending institutions also check for other things such as what you do for a living, your current salary, and your debt-to-income ratio.

However, it is your credit score that determines the actual amount of your home mortgage loan and the rate of interest involved. So before you even think of applying for a loan, make sure that your credit report is in order. Any errors or omissions should be rectified immediately.

Whenever you need to apply for a mortgage loan, make sure you have are able to get a 720 credit score rating. They range from 330 to around 850, so keep a close eye on your finances.

Once you know your credit score, take steps to improve your financial situation. Remember that your dream house depends on your score.




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