What is a "Good" or "High" Credit Score?

"Do you know your credit score?" Throughout your financial life, many people will ask you this question. Whether you were taught or learned through experience, it doesn't take long before you realize how important your credit score is. However, while many people know that a good credit score is invaluable to securing a credit card or loan, few understand what a "good" credit score actually is.

What Does That 3-Digit Number Mean?

When a lender, bank or credit institution pulls your credit report, the credit bureau associates a score with your account. Since there are three credit bureaus (Experian, Trans Union and Equifax), you'll actually have 3 scores. Your score will range between 300 to 850. If you have established credit, it is likely your score will be above 400 even if you have a variety of negative factors like a recent bankruptcy, late payments or numerous collections. Sometimes, people who have no credit history will have a very high score however this is usually considered to be negative by lenders because they have no way to assess how well the person will manage credit given to them.

First Time Home Buyers: 5 Steps to Get Started

Are you ready to buy your first home? Buying a house is one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime and being a first time home buyer can make the whole process daunting and confusing. Here are a few steps to get you on the right track. 

Step #1 - Check Your Credit

When you begin working with a loan officer, one of the first questions they'll ask is what your credit profile is like. The bank or lender will run a credit check to assess your level of risk as a borrower including your ratio of debt to income and decide how likely you are to make your mortgage payments on time. Since this is your first time buying a home, do your own credit check first via www.AnnualCreditReport.com to make sure there are no errors. 

Tips to Remaining Calm During the Loan Process

Stress is a buzzword these days. It seems like each month a new study comes out confirming that stress contributes to a variety of mental and physical issues such as high blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia and premature aging. Aside from the obvious "life or death" scenarios one might encounter once in a blue moon, it's everyday situations such as job interviews, sickness, family decisions or financial hardships that really "stress" us out. 

It's a common statement that buying a home is one of the biggest investments a person will ever make so it's no surprise that it is an event that often causes a great deal of stress. Add to the fact that most people need financial help via a mortgage loan and suddenly, you are not only dealing with the stress of picking the "right" home but also qualifying for financing to make it "your"  home. And just when you think the stress is over, rates drop and your in the market to refinance and go through the loan process all over again.

3 Top Risks to Co-Signing for a Loan

While most people understand what it means to be the primary borrower on a loan - not everyone knows what is involved in Co-signing on a Loan. When you co-sign for a loan, you take on additional financial responsibility for the loan and there are inherent risks. It's important to fully understand how co-signing on a loan will effect your financial profile before saying "yes" to your friend or family member.

Risk: You are Responsible for the Loan. 

If, for any reason, the primary borrower misses or can no longer make payments, the lender will expect you to pay. If you are incapable of making those additional payments - rethink co-signing.

Part III: Your Refinance FAQ's Answered

To continue our 3 part series about Home Mortgage Refinancing, we want to point out that everyone has a different financial picture, unique goals and specific reasons why a refinance may or may not be the right course of action. Always seek out a mortgage professional to discuss your scenario so that you can make the best decision for you and your family.

Click here to read Part I: Should I Refinance My Home?

Click here to read Part II: Refinance Checklist

We've covered the questions you might have about whether you should refinance your home and we've given you a checklist of important documents and info you should have on hand but just to make sure you're confident - we're answering many commonly asked questions about refinancing.

[NEWS] 10% of Americans are "Credit Invisible"

A recent article in the New York Times, reports that "about 26 million Americans lack a credit file." Ann Carrns continues by adding that these "credit invisible" consumers...lack any credit history with the major nationwide credit reporting agencies, which tends to shut them out of the economic mainstream. These findings are according to a report issued on May 5, 2015 by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

"An additional 19 million Americans, or 8 percent of adults, have some credit history, but not enough to create a score. Eighty percent of adults, or about 189 million people, have credit scores."

How is a Credit Bureau Score Calculated?

Whether you are looking to open a credit card, finance a car or buy a home...you've probably noticed that your credit score is important. A credit score is essentially used to assess how likely it is that a borrower will repay a loan. The score measures the relative degree of risk that a potential person represents to a lender or investor and is based on several areas of information (however, because of several laws against discrimination - it is not based on gender, race age or zip code.)

Credit Bureaus & Score Range

Fair, Isaac Credit Bureau scores range between 300 to 850 points - the higher the score, the less risk associated with the borrower. Below are the three national credit data repositories that contribute to your score:

• Equifax - 800-685-1111
• Trans Union - 800-888-4213
• Experian - 800-397-3742

Each of these bureaus may offer you a slightly different credit score depending on the data within their own credit profile. Keep in mind that a score is based on all credit-related data - not just negative data. 

Common Title Insurance Questions...& Answers!

If you've ever purchased a home, it's possible you've heard title insurance discussed however there is often some confusion about this vital part of the home buying process.

What Does a Title Company Do?

When you make an offer to purchase a home - how can you be sure that there are no issues or problems with the home's title? How do you know that the seller actually owns the property? A title company will run a title search on the property to answer these questions. 

Lenders require a title search to prevent fraudulent sales. A title search will ensure that the seller is the owner of the home and attempts to uncover an "encumbrances" that may be on title. Encumbrances include any liens (legal claims) against the property filed by either creditors in an attempt to collect unpaid bills or by the IRS for unpaid taxes. Contractors liens, unpaid homeowner dues and unpaid child support are all examples of other possible issues. These encumbrances must be resolved (paid) either before or at closing. 

The title professional will search the public records which involves reviewing land records that go back many years. More than one third of all title searches reveal a title problem that title professionals will need to fix before you can close. This should not only be important to lenders but also to buyers, as in many cases, encumbrances follow the property - not the owner.

4 Topics to Discuss with Your Loan Officer

You’re ready to buy or refinance – but whether this is your first or fourth loan – you may find that working with a loan officer to be confusing and difficult. Having a clear understanding of what you want and how to communicate with your mortgage professional is critical for success. To keep everything running smoothly – make sure you discuss the following topics with your loan officer.

1 - Communication Style

Mortgage professionals will communicate with you in a variety of ways including by phone, email and text. Some are tech savvy and others prefer traditional methods. The point is to be clear about what YOU prefer. If you respond more quickly to text messages versus voicemail - tell your loan officer. Often times, there are time sensitive issues that arise during the loan process, so it will make everyone happy if your loan officer knows how to get questions answered, additional documentation etc. in a timely manner.

[NEWS] Freddie & Fannie to Offer Mortgages Requiring Only 3% Down Payment

CNN Money recently reported that the "3% down payment mortgage" is making a comeback!

"In an effort to open up lending to more low-income and first time home buyers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced Monday that they will start backing mortgages with down payments of as little as 3% of the home's price." (Source CNNMoney)

Before you get too excited - it's important to realize that borrowers will need to meet strict guidelines to qualify.

How to Repair Your Credit Score

Fact: Poor credit history and a bad credit score can have a serious impact of your life.
No one wants bad credit. Sometimes mistakes happen. Sometimes factors like medical bills, job loss and tragedy influence our financial profile in ways we never could have predicted. Bad credit can happen to anyone.

But now what? If you’re wondering how to repair your credit score, you are not alone. The widespread decline in credit scores has been one of the side effects of the recession but this doesn’t mean that you can’t pro-actively take the steps to start repairing your credit.

Factors that Damage Credit

First let’s clarify what can lower your credit score and damage your credit profile.

• Excessive Debt: If your credit cards are maxed and you have several loans, your debt profile is probably contributing to your low score
• Late Payments: The credit bureaus note any 30, 60, 90 & 120 day payment lates. It is essential that you pay your bills on time.
• Dormant Credit: A dormant credit card is an account that has infrequent or no use. In some cases, if an account has no activity for a period of time, issuers may close the account which revokes future charging privileges. Dormant accounts may not have additional debt but they also don’t help your credit score.
• Collections: If you fail to make a payment or pay off your account – the creditor may send your account to collections. This severely affects your score. Make sure to work closely with your mortgage or credit professional regarding paying off collections. Note: Collections on federal loans such as student loans will prevent you from getting financing from most (if not all) lenders.

[NEWS] Federal Reserve Study Says It's Getting Easier to Qualify for a Home Mortgage

Yahoo News (Homes Division) reported this morning that buying a home is actually getting easier. They add that if you've gotten turned down for a mortgage in the past few years, now may be a good time to re-apply.

"That’s because, according to Ellie Mae research, in July 2014, 67 percent of all mortgages applied for closed. That’s way up from six months before in January 2014 and also in July 2013, when the rate of mortgages that closed were at just 53 percent at both times." (Source: Yahoo Homes)

According to the president of Ellie Mae, Jonathan Corr - this is due, in part, to lenders easing their qualifying standards.

Yahoo goes on to point out three key reasons the industry is getting more flexible:

What Does it Mean to Be Mortgage Assured When Buying a Home?

The Mortgage Assured program from Midwest Equity Mortgage is a unique option to give you the power to get the home you want.

How does being Mortgage Assured Appeal to Sellers?

The market has gotten competitive and with the increasing number of cash buyers making offers - it can be hard for a financed offer to compete.



When you're Mortgage Assured with Midwest Equity - you have more than just a Pre-Approval which means you'll look more serious than other financed offers.

How Does Mortgage Loan Underwriting Work?

Whether looking to buy a home or refinance, you will likely apply for a mortgage loan and encounter about the underwriting process. Lenders and loan officers might mention “underwriting” but few home-owners and buyers might actually know exactly what this step is and how it impacts their ability to secure financing.

What is Underwriting?

Underwriting is a process that allows lenders to determine if you qualify for financing based on your level of credit risk. An underwriter is a skilled in-house person who looks at every aspect of your financial profile to determine if its possible and likely that you can repay the debt. The underwriter will consider your mortgage application and verify the information you’ve submitted. This can include verifying with your employer that you are currently working. They may also compare bank statements and tax records to ensure you have substantial income to repay the loan.

How Long Does the Loan Process Take?

The time it takes to secure a home mortgage will vary based on the TYPE of mortgage, homebuyer/homeowner scenarios and each individual lender’s processing schedule. According to HomeGuides.com – it’s reasonable to assume that a typical home loan will take 4-6 weeks from application to funding. Certain loans may take longer to reach closing.

Complete An Application

A smooth process starts off with a strong start! It will be easier for your mortgage professional to estimate a closing date once you fully complete an application. This is more than just submitting a Form 1003 – you need to also submit income verification (usually two recent pay stubs and the past 2 years’ W-2 or 1099s) along with any additional documentation that you lender may require for your specific situation. Bank statements, proof of down payment funds, purchase agreements and necessary letters of explanation (LOE) may be required to formally complete your application.

What is a SmartREFi?

The SmartREFi program from Midwest Equity Mortgage is a unique option to simplify your life by consolidating your consumer debt down to only one payment per month – all while paying off your home sooner and lowering your overall monthly payment.

How does the SmartREFi work?

We refinance your home loan, car loan, student loan and credit card debt into one monthly payment and one low interest rate. 

How Does a Home Appraisal Work?

During most real estate transactions, it will become necessary to have a home appraisal done on the subject property. This formal process of evaluation is the most effective way to determine the current value of a home not only for a buyer and seller but also for the lender who is providing financing for the purchase or refinance. While the concept might not be initially confusing, there are several misconceptions about the industry that can make the process seem complicated. Understanding what the appraiser does and how their evaluation plays a role in your financing can make the transaction easier.

The Purpose of a Home Appraisal

As you may know, home values fluctuate because of a variety of factors including supply, demand and regional influences. A home appraisal is done to determine the current market value of a property. Since this value will be used by the lender to determine equity and loan-to-value, an approved, reliable appraiser must be hired to complete the evaluation. It is important to note that he formal appraisal report that the appraiser files when financing is being sought from FHA, FNMA and Freddie Mac, will be registered with the national database and kept on file for six months.

3 Issues that Can Cause a Pre-Approved Loan to be Declined

Thinking of purchasing a home in the near future? Understanding what a lender is looking for (and avoiding) is key to enjoying a smooth process.

Getting Pre-Approved

A preliminary step to buying a home is getting pre-approved. This process involves an initial submission of your financial picture to your loan officer to see if you initially qualify for financing and obtain an estimate of how much the lender is willing to lend you. Unfortunately, many people believe that once they have been pre-approved for a mortgage – the loan is guaranteed. Nothing could be further from reality. Your loan can be denied by the lender AFTER being pre-approved and it happens often.