Kelli wrote to me through the GetOutOfDebt.org site and asked the following question. If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.
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“Dear Steve,
Hope all is well! My fiance and I are getting married next April and are currently saving to purchase our first home! We are saving around $12,000-$15,000 for the down payment, we are looking to purchase a house no more than $130,000.
The only problem is I have 2 charge offs from CC that I had about 2 years ago. My credit score is a 610 but however my fiancé’s is a 727 so his credit is great, both of our debt to income ratios are low we both have current good standing credit but are in no way in “debt”. We both make $40-$50 a year grossly. My question for you is; Do you think we would have a hard time getting a home loan because of my 2 charge offs? and if so what can we do to help our chances of buying a house?
Thank you for your help! I have been stressing over this for quite some time now!
Kelli”
The Answer:
Dear Kelli,
It’s time to stop stressing about this issue and take some easy action to resolve it.
I think the chances are fairly good that interest rates on mortgages will continue to creep up and up. If you can improve your credit now and get a better 30 year fixed rate mortgage, it will save you a lot of money over the life of the loan.
I would tackle the two charge offs first and repay those debts in full to help improve your credit.
Next, I think the two of you should get a copy of your consolidated credit report, use the link, it’s the same consolidated credit report I use and love. Get your credit scores when you order your report and it will tell you the specific action you can take to bring your scores up, in addition to paying off the charge offs.
If we can get your scores up it will save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage because you will get a lower interest rate.
I’d like to see his score about 750 and yours above 720 and I think that is doable in the next six months if you follow this plan. I think you won’t have any problems getting a house after you take care of these issues.
