HomeFit Issue 1 - Kari Crowell One | Page 8

3 Proactive Steps First-Time Homebuyers Should Consider There are specific steps a firsttime homebuyer can take before entering the real estate market that will greatly improve his or her chances of getting financing and being able to purchase a starter home. Here are three proactive steps you should consider taking before you contact a real estate agent or mortgage broker: to mortgage-finance experts. So, if you want a good idea of what your chances are of obtaining such financing, you should first order a credit report from each of the three credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and Transunion. Just use one of the many online credit monitoring companies that provide the reports, as well as your current credit score for a small fee. 2. Repair Your Credit 1. Check Your Credit Score If there is a single factor that can help or hurt your foray into the world of financing a new home it is your credit score, according 8 Once you get the reports you should carefully examine them to make sure there are no mistakes. If there are any errors, you should contact the credit bureaus and take the necessary steps to have them corrected. You should also look for any unpaid or collection accounts. If there are any unpaid or collection accounts you should settle them immediately, or set up some sort of payment plan. At the very least, this will show that are willing to pay your debts. A copy of your credit report will also show all of the credit you have available in relation to your credit lines. This is something lenders consider carefully before making a loan. It’s known as your credit utilization rate. For example, if you have total credit availability on your credit cards of $30,000