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When you buy real estate, lenders run all of the “big three” credit bureau reports. Each credit reporting agency lists your credit history as supplied to them by the individual lenders and includes governmental records. Each report assigns a credit score number to you. The credit scores reflect your theoretical risk of default to the lending institutions.

Software developed by Fair Isaac and Company generates your “FICO score.” Experian uses a system called Fair Isaac Risk Model, a computer program which rates you with a score according to Experian?s information. Equifax bases scores on BEACON programs and TransUnion bases scores on EMPIRICA models.

Your Baseline

You have three credit scores, often called FICO scores, one from each credit bureau. The lender takes the middle score as your baseline. Lenders have different standards, but generally a “C” score is around 500 to 600, a “B” is around 600 to 680, and an “A-” is above 680. Over 700 is the magical number that gets you the attention you desire. If your score is under 500, find someone to privately finance for you or a partner with good credit while you work on improving your score.

How Lenders Rate You

Credit score Available mortgage financing
720 – 800 Superb! You get what you want
700 – 719 Wonderful! You get top rates

Many home buyers rush into a home purchase without getting enough information. A home purchase, probably the one of the biggest investments of your life, needs informed and cautious consideration. Don’t let impulsiveness or ignorance ruin your enjoyable home search and purchase.

Here are 14 common home buyer’s mistakes to avoid:

1. Don’t wait to talk to a mortgage lender and check your credit. Take care of any credit issues and prepare your finances to meet all the mortgage requirements. Make sure you satisfy all six credit requirements, not just a good credit score.

2. Don’t wait too long to buy. Many renters pay more for an apartment than they would pay for a mortgage payment.

3. Don’t buy more house than you can afford. Keep your payments within reason and have a backup plan for emergencies. Even though you qualify for a certain mortgage amount, you must feel comfortable with the payment.

4. Don’t fall in love with the home for all the wrong reasons. Even though I mostly tell home sellers to use home staging strategies to sell for top dollar, my advice to home buyers is to look past all the staged glamour. Look at the bones of fixer houses to see if you can turn an ugly house into a dollhouse.

5. Don’t work with the listing agent or the wrong buyer’s agent. Get your own agent who represents your interest, one who listens to your needs. However, if you’re an experienced investor who knows how to buy houses, sometimes you can save money working with the listing agent by asking for a discounted selling commission.

6. Don’t buy in a neighborhood you don’t know. Check at night to see what activities take place. Ask the neighbors and the local law enforcement about crime statistics.

7. Don’t buy a home with an incurable defect, such as: irreparable structural damage, traffic noise, near electrical or sewage pump stations, near a mini-market with people hanging around, insufficient parking, or poor floor plan.

8. Don’t buy too far away from work. Drive the route during rush hour to test how you will feel, how much time it takes, and how much gas you buy. Your happiness outweighs the home?s amenities. Calculate gas expenditure savings for a closer home and add this amount to your possible mortgage payment.

9. Don’t forget to check zoning and county planning plans. Know what the current zoning allows you to do and what the planed zoning around the property will bring. You need to know if an airport, freeway, or apartment buildings will be built nearby.

10. Don’t pay more than you need to buy a Read more…