Every time you apply for credit, whether it’s opening a new phone line or applying for a home mortgage, creditors look at your credit report before offering a home loan. They check your credit score, your history of making payments and your current debt load.

They do this not only to assess whether they want to lend money to you, but also to gauge how much interest or loan insurance they should charge.

When you apply for a home mortgage, you’ll go through an extensive application process. You’ll be required to submit your proof of income, past bank statements, and employment history. Your financial institution will review these and your credit thoroughly. But what exactly does that mean?

In this article, we’ll teach you about your credit rating, credit reports, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and how you can use all these to secure your next home.

Credit Rating or Score

Your credit rating is actually a numerical score called a FICO score. By placing a value percentage on your repayment history, debt-to-available-credit ratio and type of debt, the credit assessment agencies determine a score that’s used to rate you as a lendee. Many lending institutions use this score to draw a conclusion on your loan suitability and interest rate.

Credit Information

Your credit numbers are a lot like a report card. It includes a list of your debts from the last 7 years along with a record of the debt amount, how well you’ve made payments, whether you had any delinquencies (non-payments) and your debt-to-available-credit ratio. The information on your report is what is used to come up with your credit score.

FCRA

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that gives you, the consumer, power over your consumer credit information, and it’s extremely important if you’re having trouble obtaining a home mortgage because of poor credit.

Essentially, the FCRA says that you have the right to see your credit report at any time and grants you one free copy per year. It also allows you to contest any misinformation found on your the report.

So, if you’ve been turned down for a home mortgage because of poor credit or you’re thinking about applying for a mortgage but are worried about your credit, it’s very important to request a copy of your personal report. From there, review it carefully and always contest any mistakes. Remember, a healthy credit score leads to a healthy financial future.

MISTAKE #1: Over shopping your loan

Your credit score is based on the perceived risk associated with extending you credit. Over the years, the credit reporting agencies have determined that a borrower who seeks credit from many different lenders is riskier than others. Therefore, they decrease your credit score each time a lender pulls your credit report.

Each time you call a lender seeking the best possible rate and terms for your home mortgage, he has to pull your credit report. This is factored into your credit score, and a lower score decreases your likelihood of getting the best rate and terms.

While some consumers are ONLY focused on rates, you should seek the guidance of a National Association of Responsible Loan Officers member that is willing to speak with you about your loan options. There are literally hundreds of loan products available and every borrower has a different financial situation and financial goal. We highly recommend having a consultation with your loan officer so they can tailor a program to meet your individual needs instead of focusing exclusively on rates and points. You may likely find a better product than the one you were shopping for.

MISTAKE #2: Trying to hide past financial difficulties

One of the important services a responsible loan officer offers is helping you overcome past financial difficulties that may hinder your ability to have your loan approved. Your loan officer is on your side.

Supply the information that will help your loan officer provide you with the best possible rate and terms and minimize the impact of your past credit history. The fact that you have recovered from past financial problems makes you a better risk than others who haven’t yet faced challenges. Overcoming past financial difficulty proves that you honor your commitments and don’t give up.

MISTAKE #3: Allowing a loan officer to put misleading or untruthful information about your income, expense or cash available for down payments on a loan application in order to get a loan

Providing untruthful information on a loan application is fraud. Mortgage fraud is prosecuted by federal authorities, and they will find out about the fraudulent information. Do not allow yourself to become an accomplice of a loan officer’s fraudulent loan application.

Even if a loan officer fills in the information for you, if you do not believe the loan application is 100% truthful, you should refuse to sign it until the loan officer corrects the application. While many loan officers try to “help” borrowers by misstating the facts, the truth is that they are simply getting themselves and their borrowers into a lot of trouble.

MISTAKE #4: Borrowing more than you can repay

All of us understand that we may have to stretch our monthly budgets a bit to afford the homes we want. However, you will put your entire financial health in jeopardy by buying a home you simply cannot afford.

If you buy an expensive home and find you cannot make the monthly payments, you could face a huge loss when you have to sell that home quickly to get out from under your mortgage. Or worse, you could be forced into foreclosure or bankruptcy.

It is much better to be patient, buy a home you can comfortably afford, make payments, build equity and then transition into a larger home after a couple of years. Yes, the larger home will cost more then, but the home you purchased will also have appreciated during that time. Most importantly, you will have built a successful financial foundation that allows you to experience all of your dreams, including that dream home.

MISTAKE #5: Relying on interest rate advertising

Some loan officers use interest rates to get your attention; however, they may actually end up costing you more. Such rates are often derived by using a 30-year mortgage coupled with an accelerated payment plan.

You may decide you like that option, but you cannot directly compare the interest rate on that mortgage to other opportunities. This loan could cost more than other mortgages with seemingly higher interest rates.

It is critical to find a loan officer you can trust to review the options available to you and the best possible rates for your financial situation. Only a responsible loan officer can give you all of your options in an understandable way.

Robert Skrob is the executive director of the National Association of Responsible Loan Officers. Individuals everywhere, looking for home financing resources can turn to the mortgage loan officer director at http://www.narlo.com. You may reach Robert via email to QuestionATNARLO.com