Understand Your Credit Score and How It Affects The Cost of a Mortgage Loan

Your credit, your credit scores, and how wisely you shop for a loan that best fits your needs have a significant impact on your mortgage interest rate and the fees you pay. To improve your credit and your chances of getting a better mortgage, get current on all of your monthly payments and stay current. About 35% of your credit scores are based on whether or not you pay your bills on time. About 30% of your credit scores are based on how much debt you owe. That’s why you may want to consider paying down some of your debt.

Get your credit report at annualcreditreport.com and check it for errors. As a German American customer you can access your Free Credit Score Report daily within the German American Mobile Banking app.  If you find mistakes, submit a request to each of the credit bureaus to ask them to fix the mistake. For more information about correcting errors on your credit report, visit consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb.

If your credit score is below 700, you will likely pay more for your mortgage. If you work to improve your credit and wait to buy a home, you will likely save money. Sometimes the savings may be $50.00 to $100.00 per month on a typical mortgage payment. That adds up over the life of the loan. An average consumer who adopts healthy credit habits, such as paying bills on time and paying down credit card, could see a credit score improvement in three months or more.

Here are two things to consider doing to improve you credit score before buying a home: 

1. Be careful making any big purchases on credit before you close on your home. Even financing a new refrigerator could make it harder for you to get a mortgage.

2. Correcting errors on your credit report may raise your score in 30 days or less. It’s a good idea to correct errors before you apply for a mortgage.

We’re here to help! Contact our professional Mortgage Loan Experts. Use our online home loan calculators and visit our Home Loan Center for additional resources.


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