Applying for a Loan?--Start
by Ordering Your Credit ReportIf you are considering
applying for a loan, ordering a copy of your credit report may well be
the best place to start. Why? Because it’s also the first thing a
potential creditor will be looking at, and even if you pay your bills
on time, you will want to ensure that all the information in your
credit file is up-to-date and accurate.
Studies have shown that many credit files contain
inaccuracies that could affect your credit rating, and even lead to
the rejection of a loan application. That’s why reviewing your credit
report beforehand may be a good idea, giving you time to dispute any
items that may be the result of simple human error or a technical
glitch.
And depending on whether you are applying for an
auto loan, a mortgage loan, or a loan for business or personal use,
different lenders may apply different standards in rating your credit
worthiness. For this reason, reading your credit report and
understanding how your credit data might be interpreted may give you a
chance to improve your credit worthiness from the point of view of a
lender. If you would like to get a free copy of your credit report
right now,
Click Here!
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Before you begin the application process, check your
credit report for the following items:
Clerical Inaccuracies
Sometimes credit reports contain inaccuracies that
are the result of a computer glitch or a clerical error. These may
include payments not credited, late payments, or data mixed in from a
credit file of someone with a name similar to yours. Ordering your
credit report will quickly show you what the lender will see--then
it’s up to you to dispute any information that you consider
inaccurate. If you would like to get a free copy of your credit report
right now,
Click Here!
.
Excess Unused Credit
To make your credit more attractive to a potential
lender, you may wish to consider reducing the number of revolving
charge accounts that are listed as active on your credit report.
Lenders will sometimes view too much revolving debt as a negative when
considering a loan application.
In situations where you have stopped using a credit
account, it is often a good idea to close the account if you don’t
plan to use it anymore. Make sure your creditor notates the account
“closed at consumer’s request”--otherwise, a prospective lender might
assume the creditor closed the account for other reasons.
A few credit cards managed well may improve your
chances for a loan--particularly a mortgage loan, where lenders use
stricter qualifying guidelines. Another rule of thumb is to keep
balances on credit cards around 75% of the available credit limit.
Ironically, credit cards that have lots of room on them may be viewed
as potential debt, while maxed-out cards make you a less desirable
credit risk--both of these situations could compromise your ability to
obtain a loan.
If you would like to get a free copy of your credit
report right now, click here to
Get a FREE Credit Report from FreeCreditReport.com. Make informed decisions to build or maintain a solid credit rating. Order your FREE Credit Report today!
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30-day and 60-day Late Payments
Even if your credit report contains a couple of
30-day late payment entries that are accurate, many lenders will
overlook the occasional late payment if you explain the situation and
your credit is otherwise good. Try to avoid any payment being 60 days
late however, as this may be a red flag for some lenders--even if they
do grant you the loan, it may come at a higher rate of interest and
with less favorable terms.
The primary period lenders are interested in on a
credit report is the last two years, so try to maintain on time
payments, and verify that the payments are being credited properly by
checking your credit report regularly. If you would like to get a free
copy of your credit report right now,
Click Here!
Avoid Unnecessary Inquiries
Each time a prospective creditor looks at your
credit report, an inquiry notation is added to your file, and most
inquiries stay on your credit report for up to two years. Inquiries
you make yourself, inquiries made during screening for a pre-approved
offer of credit, or an inquiry that is part of a background check for
employment purposes are not reported to potential credit grantors.)
It is best to avoid over-applying for credit and
running up excessive inquiries, for the simple reason that lenders of
creditors may think you’re trying to get credit due to financial
difficulty, or taking on more debt than you can repay.
Lenders do of course realize that some inquiries are
a result of shopping around for the best rates on a loan, and so they
will often overlook a block of inquiries within a very recent period.
It may help if you explain the inquiries in the application process.
If you would like to get a free copy of your credit report right now,
Click Here!
.
Understanding how your credit report affects your
financial future is the key to smart credit management. Incorporating
a review of your credit report into your financial planning is also
one of the best ways to make sure you meet your goals--especially when
those goals involve major purchases, and you’re shopping for a loan
with the most favorable terms possible.
Get the MOST COMPLETE personal credit information!
For detailed advice on how to get your credit in order,
check out:
Credit Issues 101 |