Understand Your Credit Articles
Repair Your Credit
How's this for a nightmare scenario - your car broke down for good, and you desperately need a loan to buy a new one. You go to the bank, confident in getting a good rate. After all, you pay your monthly bills on time and your mortgage is average for your lifestyle. However, after a credit check, the bank manager refuses to lend you the necessary funds. You leave the bank, shocked and embarrassed. What ...Credit Repair Services
Yes, you can repair your credit report yourself, though it does take time, research and paperwork. Many people choose not to spend their valuable time learning consumer laws and the process of formulating dispute letters, preferring to let a trusted expert take care of it. This is where a legitimate credit repair service can help you. These companies specialize in credit and consumer issues, and know the strategies and nuances in dealing with the credit ...Free Credit Reports
How to Order Your Credit Reports The only authorized website where you can order your credit reports for free is at Annual Credit Report (www.annualcreditreport.com). This site is operated by the three major credit agencies and is the central hub where orders are placed. You can also order them by phone through each of the three credit bureaus. The Major Credit Bureaus These are the three main credit bureau agencies operating in the United States:...Credit Scoring is like a Teeter Totter
Back in the days when it was okay and acceptable to have dangerous, limb-breaking, skull-cracking playground equipment on school playgrounds (You know, the kind of toys that were actually fun to play on?), I remember fondly the HUGE Teeter Totters we had next to the Kindergarten Portables at Fern Hill Elementary in Tacoma, WA. Possibly my perspective is affected by my advancing years and the fact ...We’ve Decided to RAISE our Borrowers’ Interest Rates
“We appreciate your loan business very much, but because the economy has gotten difficult we’ve decided to TRIPLE your interest rate effective immediately. When your next statement comes, the payment and interest rate will be higher, but don’t panic – it’s just our way of staying profitable so we can continue to serve you…” OKAY, BEFORE YOU CALL ME IN A PANIC – THIS IS NOT TRUE!!! But are you one of the ...Credit Scoring In Plain English
Most people understand that there are 3 major credit bureaus who keep track of all your credit transactions, and that they give you a rating – known as a “credit score”. But very few people understand how this “score” is actually determined. It is a complicated mathematical scientific formula locked away in a secret vault somewhere, but you don’t want “complicated”, “mathematical”, or “scientific” mumbo jumbo to stuff in your head, so ...Credit Report Errors? Or Deliberate Misreporting?
You just got a copy of your credit report and it is full of errors and accounts that aren’t yours. Your first reaction is to get mad at the credit reporting agency for being so stupid and ruining your life. But hold on a second there pardner… Before you direct your anger at the wrong place, you need to understand that the credit reporting agencies rarely make errors. The report you have in ...Using Bribes and Threats To Get a Good Credit Account
Yes, you read the title correctly. If you need to add a good credit account to your credit report (and the only way you can raise your credit score is if you have some good credit accounts), you can try using a bribe to get one. And , yes, this is legal to do! The best place to start when trying to add a new credit account is your bank. Go in and ...“SAFETY NET” Credit Scoring Factor
Lenders and credit card companies use your credit score to help determine how likely it is that you will pay back the money they lend you. Fair Isaac Corporation, the creator of FICO credit scores (the most commonly used credit scoring system) has a breakdown of the relationship between your credit score and your chances of being a “Good Player” vs. a “Bad Player” (see chart here). So, your credit score reflects an estimate ...Latest Articles
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?
I often find myself in long conversations with my borrowers over the best way to pay off mortgages early. Do I recommend the “Bi-Weekly Payment” ...
Making Sense of the new Tax Credit Extension
Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension
Okay, I think I get it now and I’m ready to give you the scoop on the new tax credit extension. ...
Variable Rate vs. Fixed Rate
Choosing a Variable Rate is like Ordering a Pizza
“Should I pick an adjustable rate mortgage, like a 3/1 or 5/1 ARM, or go with ...
Washington Women Veterans Summit 2009
"Top 10 Ways to Get Out of Debt and Build Wealth" is the title of my workshop at the Women Veterans Summit this year. I’m ...
Know your Statutes of Limitations
“Can you just make a small payment as a show of good faith?” Have you been called by a collection agency trying to collect on ...