Bentley
OtherForum Replies Created
-
Refinancing After Missed Payments
How Your Missed Payments Impact Your Refinancing:
Credit Score: The first thing that could be an issue while refinancing is your credit score, which can be negatively impacted by two of the late payments recorded against you. Late payments of obligations certainly hamper and meet their threshold, as a minimum score must be met for lenders to be more pliable.
Lender Policies: Every lender exhibits a different pattern of dealing with late payments and the habits of their clientele. Some may cut you slack because the payments are overdue, and your profile records a great history of on-time payments.
Explanation: If there was an extenuating circumstance that caused the late payments, try to explain it to the lender. Most lenders will appreciate that you are telling them the truth and are able to assess your financial situation accurately.
Is this the right time to refinance?
Evaluate Your Current Scenario: Although there were late payments, it is reasonable to reconsider your stance on the possibility of refinancing in case the current mortgage on the property has a much higher rate of interest or far less favorable terms. You can always check back on the savings to see if it would be worth opting for.
Consult with Lenders: Talk to several lenders and ask them where the application will take you. Someone might be prepared to work with you if your payments are overdue.
Filing Bankruptcy
How to Approach Your Day of Filing:
Diligence is Key: If the debt collectors do not remove communication barriers, it indicates that ‘time’ is already on your side. Your debts are not deleted as payouts are not being carried out on target.
Insight and Finding Out Down The Road: Inform yourself if you see room for payment in the debts owed. If the debts are more manageable and you cannot look for a plausible approach, serving fair days may be a better alternative.
Steps to be Taken:
Credit Impact: Most lenders value credit scores highly; thus, a lien on early payment can have a tremendous impact.
Investigate Thoroughly: Instead of going straight for bankruptcy, consider bankruptcy alternatives, like ignoring unpaid liabilities until you reach the total amount needed.
Refinancing: The total amount needed to consider for payment can, in 2 situations, discouragement and disbelief, complicate the time needed for processing. Lenders are the best people to approach for gaining insight into payments.
Filing Bankruptcy: If you have unpaid liabilities that seem overwhelming to pay off after filing bankruptcy or currently, look into deciding on them with all possible alternatives.
Should you have more questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
-
Bentley
MemberNovember 21, 2024 at 1:28 am in reply to: How a Car Payment Affects DTI For a MortgageCar Payment’s Effect on DTI when Seeking a Mortgage
The Debt to Income Ratio is a vital element in mortgage transactions, given that it assists lenders in determining a borrower’s payment capacity and debt repayment ability. Here’s how a car payment impacts your DTI ratio and what to think about when opting to acquire a new car and house at the same time:
Start with an understanding of DTI
Formula: The DTI is computed by dividing your gross monthly income into your total monthly debt repayments, which include car payments, mortgages, credit cards, and student loans, among many other debts.
Acceptable Ratios: Most lenders require that the DTI ratio stay at 36%, while others can afford to allow it up to 43% or more for only a limited number of borrowers.
Effect Car Payments will have
Raising DTI: When a car repayment is included as part of your monthly obligations, the amount of monthly payments you owe will increase and increase your DTI ratio. This might imply that the loan amounts you qualify for to purchase a house may be very few or that the mortgages you take out for the house would be very difficult to get.
New vs Old Cars: When deciding on a car to purchase, consider the payments and their impact on your DTI. New cars indeed come with higher payments compared to used cars.
Is it Better to Wait Before Buying a New Car?
Having a new car along with a mortgage can impact your credit score. And one bad grade is enough to shift your mortgage rates. Hence, one should refrain from purchasing a new car while applying for a loan. These things can matter for your DTI during a mortgage.
While getting preapproved for a mortgage loan, refrain from making any transactions that can significantly change your net worth.
Should You Wait to Buy a House if Your Student Loans Still Need to be Due?
Your student loan does not affect your monthly DTI payments and is not considered. However, lenders might consider the total amount of debt present with the individual. It is important to understand how your lenders will treat these loans.
This increases one’s monthly DTI, which includes loan payments, along with the applicant’s current DTI ratio. This can change quite a few factors when applying for a mortgage, especially when your loan is about to burn out.
In cases where an individual is more inclined towards applying for a bank mortgage, they can consider postponing their car payments and focusing on purchasing a house, as this can definitely help them in the long run and prevent an uplift in the DTI ratio.
Student Loans Evaluation: If your student loan is on deferment, consider how soon it will be repaid and how long you think it will be best for your financial situation to wait before buying a home.
Following these steps can help ensure you keep a good DTI ratio, allowing you to be approved for a mortgage. If you have any further questions or need our help, reach out to us!
-
Bentley
MemberNovember 21, 2024 at 1:21 am in reply to: WRITTEN PAYMENT AGREEMENTS FOR HIGH DTI BORROWERSNegotiating a monthly payment plan with a creditor could be beneficial, especially while trying to improve your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Let’s understand the implications of a monthly payment of $100 when one has an outstanding balance of $8,000 on his account.
Impact on DTI Ratio
Almost all lenders check DTI ratios as part of their assessment criteria. DTI is the ratio between total monthly debt and total income; improving this ratio will benefit the borrower in the long run.
Owing to consideration without signing a formal agreement, the borrower needs to make sure that he makes a consistent payment throughout the payment term. Failing to do so can cause a negative change in the borrower’s financial situation.
Affordability
The borrower must completely understand the situation and his monthly commitments before agreeing to a payment plan of $100 from his end because it is pivotal that this amount does not jeopardize his ability to afford core necessities.
What separates the rich from the poor is their spending habits and whether they have sufficient savings. It is always prudent to avoid being in some debt to aid in recovery periods.
Creditor Agreement
Agreements are easy to forget, but understanding that all agreements must be signed is important because they are essential documents that can clear the air and save both the debtor and the creditor from miscommunication.
Terms and Conditions: Comprehend the agreement’s content, which includes any penalties incurred if you fail to make a payment or if the amount to be paid is changed.
Lender Considerations
Lender Policies: Policies regarding DTI vary from lender to lender. Some may accept obligations to pay the agreement as part of their monthly duties, while others may not. You must verify your lender’s stance on such agreements.
Documentation: When you apply for a mortgage, you will need to record the executed payment agreement and your payment history. Therefore, be ready with such documents.
Long-Term Strategy
Paying Down Debt: Consider whether the $100 payment will help increase the principal amount at a constant rate over several periods if it is not paid back. Occasionally, increase the payment above the specified minimum to expedite debt repayment.
Credit Counseling: If you have several debts and overseeing them has become a pain, try contacting a credit counselor for support. The counselor can suggest some methods to manage debts.
If you do not wish to take on an excessively risky financial burden, signing a monthly $100 payment deal for your $8,000 debt can be an encouraging step towards paying off the debt balance and encouraging support for your DTI ratio. Make sure that you obtain a written contract and also ask your lender about how the mortgage will be considered when these Other Liabilities are added to the mortgage application. If you have more questions or need assistance, you can ask!
-
Bentley
MemberNovember 21, 2024 at 1:15 am in reply to: Collection, Charge-Off Accounts and JudgmentsDealing with older collection efforts, charge-offs, and even potential garnishments needs some caution when approaching the situation.
Below is a coverage of what you ought to think of:
Collection Accounts and Charge-Offs Understanding
Collection Accounts: These are debts that a collection agency repossessed after the creditor tried to collect payment but was unsuccessful. They can hurt your credit score.
Charge-offs: This means that a lender has treated the borrower’s failure to pay the debts, in this case within 180 days, as a loss. Charge-off does not absolve liability for the debt, and lenders may attempt to collect the debt or sell it to a collection agency.
Reaching Out To The Collection Agency
Understanding Your State: It is prudent to check your credit report to determine the accounts in question before contacting a collection agency.
Inquiring About Liens: A collection agency can be contacted to confirm whether they have imposed a lien on you or a judgment exists. Knowing this before making any payments or entering into agreements is good.
Cash Judgments and Legit Liens – what’s the deal?
In this sense, judgments focus on the process where a creditor manages to sue you before a certain fee can be attached to your property. Nowadays, having a lien is not acceptable from a marketing point of view. However, it does stay on your credit report for seven years. If, in any unfortunate event, a creditor wins a lawsuit against you, that might create a lien on your assets because they could take a judgment.
Liens: If a lien exists, it tends to come in the way if you want to sell or refinance property in the future. With your name and details on the local courthouse, you could check records and determine if any states or liens exist against you.
Renewal of Liens is getting tricky and ugly.
Statute of Limitations: Depending on the jurisdiction, any liens attached to a settlement must be canceled after 5 to 10 years. As far as I know, most of them stay there, depending on whether the creditor or debt collector replaces them.
Negotiating: Agreements are easy to walk away from and get broken, especially with settlements or payment plans. But you know what? They should always be put in writing.
Before you pick up a phone
Impact on Credit: You should brush up on what might worsen your credit and what might benefit it, but consider the factors that can contribute to or deteriorate it while not ignoring the fact that some issues might resolve positively. For example, a worsening might be due to the collection recording of the event and the contact you afterward.
Payment Plans: To avoid having problems understanding the terms and conditions of a payment agreement, read through every detail before concluding. Suppose one proceeds with an agreement for payments. In that case, I will ensure that a renewed judgment or lien is impossible because whatever resists achieving that resists achieving the payments.
Some people must open their mail and pay attention to the collection agency letters. But I’d advise many people to contact the agency, as it is a great means of clarifying outstanding debts together with any possible liens or judgments against a person. Communication would help the agency and the sharer better appreciate any potential impact or cover the issues regarding debts through records. Lastly, if you have more questions, you can always ask me!
-
What Is a Credit Supplement?
There are circumstances under which the standard credit report will not suffice for individual creditors. A credit supplement is often necessary when there is insufficient information or clarification on specific issues within the normal credit report, which is how it is typically utilized in the foreclosure letter.
How Does It Work?
Supplemental Information: Supplemental documentation that pertains to the borrower can also be submitted during the loan process as a credit supplement.
This includes the following :
Explanation of Credit Events: Details of adverse credit events, such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, and late payments, that were not initially included in previous reports might need an explanation.
Updated Payment Histories: Account payments in recent periods not included in the credit report as the reporting period ends could also be included.
Income Verification: This is mainly meant to cover all possible income sources for self-employed people or income that is not consistent.
Submission: In this case, the borrower or their lender submits the credit supplement to the credit reporting agency or directly to the mortgage lender as part of the loan application process.
Review: In such a case, the underwriter treats the supplement as additional information necessary to assess the risk of lending to the borrower alongside the receipt of payment for the loan in the form of commercial reports.
Why Do We Need a Credit Supplement?
This statement clarifies concerns related to inconsistencies in the borrower’s credit report and relevant matters. It also explains discrepancies and issues raised in that credit report from the borrower’s perspective, mitigating their concern.
Enhance Application Prospects: Supplying extra facts can help a borrower’s position. One reason might be that the applicant had previous credit complications.
Completing the Picture: With the loan application, the borrower can explain any changes in creditworthiness trends not yet in their report, including an increase in payment performance and wage growth.
Enabling Better Risk Evaluation: Lenders can be more accurate in their decisions based on a more detailed view of the borrower’s history and present circumstances rather than old credit data.
To summarize
A credit supplement can improve the likelihood of securing a mortgage by explaining a person’s credit history. It may also help the lender understand the borrower’s situation. Feel free to ask if you have more questions or need further assistance!
-
What Are Reserves?
Reserves are the funds that secure the mortgage after making the down payment and closing costs. They function as a safety net for mortgage payments if the borrower’s financial state becomes compromised. Reserves are the cash received measured in months of due mortgage payments.
How Do Reserves Work?
Liquid Assets: Reserves can take the form of savings, checking, and some stocks and bonds; others can be easily converted to cash.
Months of Payments: It is customary for lenders to require a certain number of months’ worth of cash the borrower has. A good example is if you pay out $2,000 monthly and the lender directly stipulates 6 months’ worth of cash, you would show $12,000 in funds.
Verification: Customary documents, such as investment accounts and bank statements, are provided, asserting that the cash reserves exist.
When Do Mortgage Lenders Ask for Reserves?
Type of Loan:
Conventional Loans: Conventional loans are usually offered with some reserve requirement, which is enforced on members with low credit scores or high DTI ratios.
FHA Loans: While FHA reserves requirements may not be as strict as others, the lender may want reserves if the borrower’s financial conditions are deemed high risk.
VA Loans: VA loans, however, tend to have fewer restrictions on certain lenders that still would want to reserve for guaranteed stability of borrower.
Borrower Profile:
Self-Employed Borrowers: Self-employed applicants may even have to provide more reserves as their income can be erratic, and in such cases, the lenders may want the borrowers to have more reserves.
Low Credit Scores: Borrowers with lower credit scores would be required to have some reserves to protect against default in case they fail to repay.
Higher Debt-to-Income Ratios: In cases where a borrower has a high DTI ratio, the lenders may also wish to have reserves to ensure that the borrower can sustain the mortgage.
Property Type:
Investment Properties: Investment property loans are expected to be riskier than loans on primary residences, and thus, lenders may expect to have far greater reserves in case such loans are to be taken.
Reserves are important as they enable lenders to be comfortable in case a borrower defaults on a loan. When dealing with mortgaging, it is paramount that one comprehends the requirements of reserves concerning the loan category and the applicant’s financial structure. For any additional information or assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out!
-
Consumers may file for bankruptcy for several reasons, though there are more pleasant choices to pursue. Here are some common reasons individuals file for bankruptcy: THINGS I DON’T WANT TO THINK ABOUT HOW I’M GOING TO REPAY THESE. THINGS THAT ARE LOANS.
- Debt that seems too high to handle.
- Need help finding a job or lower-income.
- Problems in a marriage or the end of a marriage.
- Events that have come unexpectedly in life.
Trouble finding a job or lower income – Unemployment: Continuing with life without a job can be a sensible source of stress because responsibilities and bills are waiting to be paid
Under Employment: Sometimes, taking fewer hours may feel like a good idea, but it can lead to insufficient income to cover expenses.
Focus on Life Events: From hurricanes and floods to small fires, these events come uninvited, take a toll, and damage properties and assets.
Number Three Divorces or Separation: Financial Obligation: All the partners needed to find a job to pay for the groceries, but they said, “Okay, I’ll be the kid at home and do the chores for now.” Then, in divorce, you cannot do that.
Bill websites: You may need to be financially stable enough to cover repayment, alimony, or child support.
Having a medical issue or injury: Unfortunately, it bears very high medical bills and, most importantly, a loss of business.
Deficiencies and Weaknesses in Financial Management
Absenteeism in budgeting: Without a budgeting perspective, it is relatively easy to spend money while being unable to repay it through finances.
Buying things you don’t need: People constantly spend money without thinking, ultimately spending more than they have and making it difficult to manage their finances.
Lenders and predator financing
Loans with multiple high interest rates: Due to exorbitant interest rates, financing is extremely limited, and many people take high-risk loans.
Casualties of lending and sponsors fraudulent schemes: Many times, lenders con their clients, and thus, sorry, embeds become hampers due to their inability to pay cash.
Instances Of Company Collapse
Risks associated with Entrepreneurship: Sometimes, business ventures collapse, causing the business owner to declare bankruptcy and risk losing their assets.
The average consumer would file for a temporary fix known as bankruptcy when debt has grown uncontrollable and requires a precautionary measure. With such actions, it is always challenging to regain high credit scores or be stable financially. Therefore, knowing situations for which this type of bankruptcy is useful triggers an understanding of making better choices in the future. Feel free to ask if you have more questions or need further assistance!
-
Bentley
MemberOctober 30, 2024 at 12:01 am in reply to: Day 15 Veterans and Credit History Length: A Journey Through TimeDay 15: Veterans and Credit History Length: A Journey Through Time
So, you are back again on Day 15 !! This day resonates as a stimulus for those who love to explore ancient history. Remember all veterans here today. I will try to make you understand the armory aspect of your credit. So let me tell you to start with today’s topic, i.e., the impact of duration of credit on a veteran’s overall score.
Understanding Credit History Length: The Timeline Matters
So, let me cut to the chase: Credit history length refers to the lens through which you evaluate the duration for which you’ve operated credit. And yes, it does matter; some might say it’s the pick of the lot, for this comprises at least fifteen percent of the fathomable amongst your Points FICO Score.
Components:
Old Account: the end parted ledger of your first opened credit account.
Most Recent Account: The younger note-worth Account you opened.
Average of Accounts: The average age of all the credit accounts held by you
The Importance of Credit History Length for Veterans
Building Trust with Lenders:
The provision of KYC for a long time can be furnished to lenders because there is no default at any credit account. Hence, it eases the brim of repayment terms, which helps a person acquire loans or interest rates.
Impact on Credit Score:
The drama around the length also tends to affect Legacy. The character of a user who intends to maintain a primitive account for multiple years becomes an account full of reliability.
Creating a Well-rounded Credit History:
Some veterans might return from active duty with a limited credit history. A combination of different types of credit accounts developed over time greatly enhances a person’s chances of being extended credit.
Ways to Increase Credit History Duration
Do Not Attempt to Close Old Accounts:
Old accounts such as credit cards can add to a person’s average age of accounts even when not in use. Consider using it occasionally for minor purchases to keep it active.
Do not Open Too Many Accounts Before Applying for a Credit Card:
Applying for too many accounts in a short period decreases the average age of your credit accounts. The application for new credit should be done wisely.
Be Careful In Managing and Using Credit:
Ensure timely payments against all accounts and maintain a low credit utilization ratio. A better and intelligent low credit management improves the overall quality of the studied facts.
Review Your Credit Report:
Consistently check your credit report for correctness because a wide range of activities can reduce the length of your credit history and score. Any wrong information should be addressed if it will affect your credit history or length.
Think About Becoming an Authorized User:
If a family member or a friend has an established credit account that is properly managed, consider becoming an authorized user of that Account. This may allow you to take advantage of their good credit history.
How long have you been borrowing money? That’s the crux of the problem. For former military members shifting to civilian life, addressing such nuances can enhance their credit standing and broaden financing means. With proper planning and responsible credit management, veterans can secure their future. Educate yourself and take control of your credit!
-
Bentley
MemberOctober 29, 2024 at 11:49 pm in reply to: Day 12 Veterans and Credit Utilization: Striking the Right Balance for FinancialDay 12: Veterans and Credit Utilization: A Marriage that Needs To Strike a Balance for Financial Wellbeing
This is our credit utilization day, and in today’s video, we will show the 12 credit secrets that we wish our bad credit-owning veterans would understand before the very foundations of our credit system are brought down to rubble. But Before we dive into today’s topic, it’s time for you to start massaging the other muscles in your brain, as today, we are putting the focus on how veterans can use, or should we say, how veterans can even get credit when they come back to living the being a civilian life.
What’s Credit Utilization?
Definition: Taking your credit usage as a mass, the percentage acquired by allowing credit card debt and revolving credit limits is known as the credit utilization ratio. It is shown in percentages and shows how much of all the credit provided to you is currently in use.
Importance: This is why the three major bureaus and other credit bureaus continuously love to return to our utilization ratios, which, in return, make up 30% of our entire credit score. This also allows lenders to judge how the account has been managed and, to some extent, enables them to determine the risk.
Understanding Credit Utilization: it isn’t solely how you spend money, but much more.
Working Out Your Credit Utilization Ratio:
In layperson’s terms, to work out your ratio, you only need to multiply the total credit card balances by assets, then obtain a percentage by multiplying it by 100.
For example, you have two credit cards, each with a $10,000 limit (limit in total = $20,000), which now have a balance of $2,000 and $3,000 (total balance = $5,000):
Using the formula,
Credit Utilization = (5,000/ 20,000) x 100, I would get a value of 25 percent.
So, in this instance, a low value of 25 percent would indicate a perfect ratio.
This could have a grave effect since, in an ideal scenario, the credit utilization ratio should be below 30 percent.
Providing credit above the standard level means requesting too much credit, which tells lenders you have a tendency to request too much money, which lowers your chances of being approved for new loans or even credit cards.
Every time you use a credit card, you assign some value to your utilization percentage. So, it is customary to check how much of a balance you have on your credit cards.
To ensure you always remain under the 30% mark, always take the time to settle outstanding balances or make minimum repayments.
The allowance to spend more would enable you to have a low utilization ratio. The trick is to ensure that spending is controlled; this is only done if you have a good history of making payments.
Distribute Your Spending:
If you have more than one credit card, try your best to use each one so that individual utilisation rates remain low.
Use Set-Up Alerts:
Use alerts to warn you when your balances are approaching a certain percentage of your credit limit. This will help you keep the percentages at favorable levels.
VeteransCredit Utilization is Important For Veterans
Rebuilding Credit For veterans adjusting to civilian life, appropriately utilizing credit can help to repair or improve credit scores and thus expand opportunities for borrowing for homes, cars, or other essentials.
Long-Term Financial Health: Understanding and properly using credit utilization is important for long-term financial management. An excellent score can result in better terms and interest rates on loans.
Credit utilization is one of the constituents of overall credit health. A low credit utilization ratio while employing good credit practices would propel veterans to position themselves well financially as they integrate into civilian life. Be alert and do your part to ensure you have a good credit profile!