In the pursuit of homeownership, affordability and accessibility are essential considerations. This is particularly true for borrowers navigating the real estate landscape for the first time or with limited financial means. Among the options available, FHA loans can help ease the financial barriers of buying a home. However, additional monthly costs and FHA housing standards … Read more
Can a loan be denied after closing? If you’re looking to buy a home in Ocala, Florida, and plan on using a lender, you might be wondering if your loan could be denied after you’ve closed on your new home. It’s usually rare for a loan to be denied at this part of the buying … Read more
If you’ve used Affirm or other buy now pay later (BNPL) services you may be wondering does paying off Affirm boost your credit score? The relationship between Affirm and your credit is complex. Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion do not get Affirm’s payment history directly from them. So simply using Affirm does not automatically improve your … Read more
“Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Bankrate is always editorially independent. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to … Read more
If youre looking for a credit card that is most likely to be accepted wherever you are in the world, your best choice is a credit card that carries the Visa or MasterCard logo. We compared the merchant acceptance of the four major global card payment networks — American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa — … Read more
This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature. A lot of the time, opening a checking or savings account won’t affect your credit score because it won’t be reported to the three main credit bureaus. The same holds true for … Read more
Hey there, friend! If you’re wondering, “How often does my credit score go up?” you ain’t alone We’ve all been there, staring at that three-digit number like it’s the key to our dreams, hoping for a bump Well, I’m here to break it down for ya in plain English. Spoiler alert there’s no magic clock … Read more
Tax can be taxing. Thereâs a lot to keep an eye on and pay. When you pay your taxes every month, do they help your credit score? If you miss a payment, will it hurt your credit score and make it harder to get a loan? Keep reading to learn more about how taxes affect … Read more
When applying for a mortgage, your credit scores play an important role in determining whether you’ll get approved and the loan terms you may receive. But with multiple scoring models available, you may wonder – do mortgage lenders use FICO 9? The short answer is: Not yet, but they likely will in the future. Let’s … Read more
Buying a home is an exciting milestone but qualifying for a mortgage can be stressful especially when your income seems just shy of affording your dream home. If you’re considering applying for a $200,000 mortgage, a common question is, “How much income do I need to qualify?” The answer isn’t straightforward since several factors determine … Read more