Credit Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Is Credit Important?
Having a good credit score is important for making financial decisions. Companies look at your credit to determine your financial standing and
whether you’ll be able to keep it up. Here are some reasons why credit is important.
It Affects Mortgages
When you’re purchasing a Houston house, having good credit works in your favor. Mortgage lenders want to ensure that you won’t default on your payments. A good credit score equals less risk for the mortgage lender, increasing your chance of getting the deal.
Moreover, a poor credit score, even if it does get approved, will cost you a higher interest rate.
Required for Auto Loans
Likewise, your credit will affect your application for an auto loan. If you have a better score, you’ll have a higher chance of being approved and that too at a lower interest rate.
Needed For Employment
Good credit indicates that you’re financially responsible, and that’s something employers usually look for. Therefore, your prospective employer may want to check your credit report in the hiring process.
Poor credit might lead you to lose the job despite your qualifications.
May Be Required for Utilities
In some cases, utility services, such as telephone, cell phone service providers, water, electricity, and cable companies do credit checks before accepting your application.
Thus, it’s important to have good credit since it pretty much impacts every facet of your life. Learn more about how we can help you improve your credit!
What Hurts Your Credit?
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Living in the US, good credit is imperative for getting loans and employment opportunities. That’s why it’s important to know which things could be hurting your credit score. Here are some of them:
- Late Payments: If even one of your payments is late for over a month, your credit score might go down.
- Hard Inquiries: Whenever you apply for a loan or a mortgage, the lender will conduct a hard inquiry on your account. Every subsequent inquiry hurts your credit, even if you’re not approved for the loan.
- Not Paying Bills: Besides your credit card bills, paying all your utilities on time is also important. Late rent or utility payments impact your credit negatively.
- Canceling Zero-Balance Credit Cards: Do not cancel your credit card even after paying the debt. It affects your credit score by shortening your credit history’s age and raising the credit utilization ratio.
- Low Credit Diversity: Having only one credit card can be problematic for your credit score. Instead, have a mix of installment and revolving credit types to improve credit.
- Co-signing Applications: If you co-sign the credit application of a friend or family with poor credit, you’re taking on responsibility for their debt, which can negatively impact your credit score.
- High Credit Card Balance: A credit utilization nearing your credit card limit could hurt your score. Experts recommend maintaining a utilization ratio of around 30% of your total credit.
If you’re struggling with a low credit score and its negative effects on your life, call our Space City Credit Repair Pros specialists today for a consultation.
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How To Read A Credit Report
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Once you get your credit report, you must be able to read it in order to identify red flags and fix the situation at hand.
Sections of a Credit Report
Here’s what different sections on your credit report show:
Personal Information
The section contains information for your identification, including:
- Date of birth
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Social security number
Make sure everything in this section is accurate. Double-check the social security number while you’re at it.
Credit History
You’ll find most of the information in this section. It tells you:
- Total loan amounts
- Shared accounts
- Late payments
- Credit accounts, like mortgages and credit cards
- Remaining loan balance
Public Records
The information in this section is from the public records and includes judgments, tax liens, and bankruptcy. For most people, this part should be blank.
Inquiries
You’ll find a list of all the businesses that have ever asked for your credit report in this section. Inquiries are of two types:
- Soft: A company needs your credit report to send you promotional offers
- Hard: These inquiries take place when you apply for a loan, mortgage, or credit card
Where’s The Credit Score?
If you’re looking at a free credit report, the credit score may not be on it. For that, you’ll have to use a service like MyFico.com or another free web software.
If you are having trouble understanding the various elements of your credit report and how to improve it, consider reaching out to our experts who will be happy to provide you with a consultation!