Medical Collections and FHA Mortgage Change July 1, 2012

cutsMedical Collection Boo-Boo’s are usually the hardest things to remove from a credit report, even though the Fair Credit Reporting Act does have pretty strong language about them.

The final rule of HIPAA (the Health Insurance Protability and Accountability Act) makes sharing personal medical record informations illegal with with the public. Remember all those forms you now sign when you check into the doctor’s office – that’s what it’s about.

The rules of HIPAA specifically includes past, present and future payments of health care.  The way most people get collections is because of co-pay. They go to the doctor, pay their co-pay – and then leave the rest to the insurance company.  When the insurance company does not pay all of the bill, the balance is sold to a collection company, and added to your credit report.

These collections DO pull your credit score down – AND starting on July 1, 2012 – FHA will begin requiring that you settle with your medical creditors in order to get a mortgage loan… that includes your MEDICAL collections too!  This is going to be especially tough for some folks, and is a HUGE change in direction for FHA!  So, if you are ready to buy, have some Medical Collections on your credit history, you might want to talk to us NOW, as opposed to WAITING until after July 1, 2012… because it’s going to be more costly, and more time consuming to go through the process!

If you are considering a mortgage loan, please contact Steve and Eleanor Thorne, 919-649-5058 – or connect with us on Facebook!  We work with people every month who had some credit issues, cleaned them up, and then were able to buy a house!  Don’t give up! We can help you do this!!

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Disputing All Credit – Not Getting Mortgage Approval

We talked to a Veteran today who wants to buy a house, First Time Home Buyer, who was referred to a “Credit Repair Company” a couple of years ago… they, of course, disputed EVERYTHING on his credit report.  They also suggested that he obtain a Secured Credit Card (which he did) and maintain a balance roughly equal to half of the credit line (which he did).  His scores went up – and he called us about getting pre-qualified to buy a house.

We ran him through Freddie Mac’s Automated Underwriting System (LP) and it was referred – Because everything is in dispute.

This is not the first, second or third time that we’ve seen someone turned down by the Automated Underwriting System – because everything on their credit report (except the one open trade line with the Credit Card Company) is in dispute!

Loan Approval Denied Disputed Credit Accounts

[Read more...]

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Why Are My Credit Scores Different??

fico

We often talk to folks who are ready to buy a house, and they have the credit scores that they get for free every year.  Well, those scores are not the same as the scores you get for a mortgage credit report.  In fact OUR Credit Score numbers and the ones they send you, are almost always DIFFERENT!

Okay- so by now you know that you will have 3 credit scores – at least this is what we’re working towards – and we want scores that are over 700.

But since the credit scores are for the SAME person… you might think (logically) they would be the SAME.  Right?  I’ve NEVER seen 3 scores that were the same – and I’m old as dirt and I’ve seen a TON of stuff! [Read more...]

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Divorce and Credit – What You Need To Know

Divorce and CreditWith the hard economic times people are facing – I guess it’s not surprising that we are seeing many more people who want to purchase a home – but have a messy divorce in their recent history.

When you have a Dissolution of Marriage where one party says they will take responsibility for the account… that’s nice for the courts… but it doesn’t mean “didly-squat” (that’s right I said it!) when it comes to your credit report. 

Just because someone SAYS they are going to take over the payments on a certain account does not MEAN that it will come off of your credit report!  In Fact, unless you ACTUALLY have yourself removed from the account, you are still obligated for that debt.

Let’s think about that in terms of a mortgage.  You Quick Deed property to the other spouse, and they agree to make payments.  In NC – when you purchase a home, you sign a Deed of Trust AND a Note.  The Quick Claim Deed takes care of only ONE part of the agreement – you must still be taken off of the Note, or you are STILL Legal Obligated for the Mortgage Loan.  In order for THAT to happen – either the party who is keeping the home must pay the note off completely – or they must refinance the mortgage so that it is solely in their name.

If you are a single parent, who is looking for information on how you can purchase the next house, here’s some more information on FHA Guidelines for Single Parents.

If you are in this situation – call us!  Steve Thorne 919-649-5058  We can help you buy a house, and counsel you on the steps you need to take to protect yourself.

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FHA Says: Pay Off Disputes Over $999

pay off collectionsFHA Announced a BIG Change that will take place this summer.  According to the FHA Mortgagee Letter 2012-3, beginning July 1, borrowers with ongoing credit disputes totaling more than $1,000 will have trouble getting an FHA Mortgage loan.  (This date has been revised and HUD is seeking comments on the ruling)

This is a HUGE change, because for the last 20 plus years, you could pretty easily get an FHA mortgage, without paying off medical collections.  Now, even if you have 740 credit scores – if your total disputed accounts add up to $1000 or more… all collections and disputed accounts will need to show payment arrangements, and on time payments for these accounts must be documented for at least 3 months.

The rule marks a significant belt-tightening of the FHA guidelines.  Before this rule,  our Bank Underwriter could determine if any of the borrower’s outstanding debts should impact the approval of the FHA-backed mortgage.  One New Home Builder estimated that this could affect as much as 65% of the buyers in their community.

It is unclear what documentation the FHA Underwriters will accept to show that the account is being paid as agreed.  Meaning that, some underwriters might want the payments to show on the credit report (not accepting cancelled checks) and others might want an additional statement from the collection agency, or an updated credit report.  FHA gives guidance on all 3 ways to verify the accounts, but each Bank will likely create their own Underwriting Guidelines for this new ruling. (See Page 3 Mortgagee Letter 2012-3)

[Read more...]

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Improve Your Score 50 Points – NOW!

credit_issuesWe’ve written many times here about writing dispute letters when you have incorrect items on your report.  In addition to this, you could improve your score by 50 points if you would do the following:

  • Pay off any verified bad credit item on your report. In exchange for your payment have the lender remove the item from your credit report.  This works especially well if you have medical collections… once the collection is sold multiple times, it shows on your credit report multiple times, so get it off!
  • Pay your bills on time. It is alleged that missing one monthly payment can cause your score to drop by up to 50 points. We tell folks that they should be able to purchase a home if they have 12 months of ON TIME payments!
  • Open a new line of credit. You will get the most benefit if this is a revolving line of credit. We recommend an unsecured credit card… but if you must use a secured card – do it! But, make sure it reports to all 3 bureaus.
  • Pay your large debts down. This is called your available credit to debt. The bureaus need to see that you are not in over you head and that you do have credit that is not being used.

These four action items are the only things you need to concern yourself with when trying to improve your FICO credit score.  The minimum credit score for most loan programs is 640.  If you have a score in the high 500′s to low 600′s, and want to buy a home – we might be able to help!  Call Steve Thorne 919-694-5058

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I Have A Repo on My Credit Report Can I Buy a House?

Villages of ApexI’ve had several of these questions lately, and I figured I’d let you know what I’m seeing.

Just because you have a repossession on your credit report does not mean that you have to delay in purchasing a home… but that doen’t mean it’s not a problem.

Okay, so let’s say you have a repossession from 2005.  Next year, 2013, the issue is going to “age” off of your account.  That means, no matter what the creditors are telling you, it’s going to go away – COMPLETELY away.  So, in most cases I don’t recommend that folks shell out $4000 to settle the deficiency balance this year (when it’s going to age off next year) because then it’s going to stay on your account for another 7 years! (To find out how long items stay on your credit report, click here!) [Read more...]

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Does The Balance On Your Account Matter?

new home sales apexI recently read a report that said:

“Several of my clients are in the credit restoration business and a recent conference call with some of the heavy hitters in the business revealed an astonishing new update to how the FICO score is computed.

Balance management – that is the practice of getting the “balance to available credit” (similar to ltv) below 50% and ultimately to below 30% for maximum benefit, “NO LONGER appears to improve the score” was the quote on the conference call. It was a common, and very simple way to get a few point increase in FICO score was to transfer balances accross cards, or pay down across cards to get the balances below 50 and 30% of the available credit line. Another common practice if there was no room on other cards or no cash to pay balances down was to call the credit companies and request an increase in the available credit limit – which would result in an improved ratio and a better score. It appears this is NO LONGER the case.”

In review of our recent files… we do not feel this is accurate information.  Our files show that folks who pay their accounts down to at lest a 50% level do have an improvement in their scores.

Don’t be fooled by those who don’t have many clients, are not working full time in the business, and just plain don’t know…  Steve Thorne at Mortgage Banker in Cary 919 649 5058  if you want to buy a house and need more information!

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What’s In Your Wallet (It Makes a Difference) Part 2

Fix Your CreditWorking on your credit scores so you can purchase a home?

If you are not behind on payments, and you think you can manage the payments as they are (without closing accounts)… let’s talk about one of the most important things you can do to raise your credit score.

Take out your wallet… Look at the Credit Cards; and find the ones that have the name of a STORE on them (these are just examples): [Read more...]

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What’s In Your Wallet (it makes a Difference)? Part 1

new homes raleighAre you considering a Home Purchase???  Many of us realize that credit scores are the Holy Grail—the one thing you do not want to screw up… and if you have, it’s the one thing you want to figure out how to FIX… FAST!

We talk to people all the time who have been laid off, or had an accident, or got sick, or relocated and then hit hard times. The first thing you need to do is GET OVER IT! Get past the anger and the sleepless nights trying to juggle everything, and start making a plan.

All too often people could increase scores and save years of problems if they asked for help EARLIER. We recommend talking to a Consumer Credit Counseling Service (NON PROFIT) before you get behind on bills. They can get credit card rates lowered, past due and over limit fees dropped, and your total monthly payments manageable. Once you’ve made 9 payments into these Services, you will probably see a positive difference in your Credit Score!

Again—you want to make sure to talk to NON-Profit Consumer Credit Counselors. They will typically keep only a very small fee for distributing the payments.

Are you trying to improve your score so you can purchase a home?? Contact Steve and Eleanor Thorne at Mortgage Banker in Cary , Cary, NC  919-649-5058

 

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