Once you apply for a mortgage, the lender accesses your credit report, which is based on data given by the three main credit-reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Your credit score should be somewhere between 300 and 850; this score is based on factors such as the length of your credit history, your available credit, the amount of credit you’ve used, and employment history. This number is your FICO score (named for the Fair Isaac Reporting Company).
Mortgage lenders consider several risk elements when deciding whether to approve a mortgage. A potential home buyer who pays all their bills on time and doesn’t have more credit than they can deal with is probably a safe risk when it comes to lending them the cost of a home. The higher your credit score, the more options and better interest rates you can qualify for.
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