Home Equity Growth Estimator: See how your mortgage payments build equity over time.
Home Equity Growth Estimator: See how your mortgage payments build equity over time. Home equity is one of the most powerful financial tools available to homeowners. It represents the portion of your property that you truly own—the difference between your home’s market value and what you owe on your mortgage. As you make payments, your […]
Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator: Evaluate your DTI ratio and its impact on loan qualification.
Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator: Evaluate your DTI ratio and its impact on loan qualification. Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is one of the most influential factors mortgage lenders consider when deciding whether to approve your loan. It reflects how much of your monthly income goes toward paying debts and gives lenders insight into your ability to take […]
Credit Score Improvement Tracker: Visualize how strategic improvements boost your mortgage eligibility.
Credit Score Improvement Tracker: Visualize how strategic improvements boost your mortgage eligibility. Your credit score isn’t just a number—it’s a critical factor that determines your eligibility for mortgage loans, the interest rates you’re offered, and ultimately, how much house you can afford. In particular, your Middle Credit Score®—the median score across Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—is […]
Down Payment Planner: Create a month-by-month savings plan for a down payment.
Down Payment Planner: Create a month-by-month savings plan for a down payment. Saving for a down payment is one of the most important—and often most challenging—steps in preparing to buy a home. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or returning to the market, having a focused savings plan can make the difference between delaying your purchase […]
Mortgage Affordability Estimator: Understand what home price you can afford based on your Middle Credit Score® and income.
Mortgage Affordability Estimator: Understand what home price you can afford based on your Middle Credit Score® and income. Understanding what you can afford is the first critical step in the home buying process. This estimator is designed to help you see how your Middle Credit Score®, current income, and existing debts impact the size of […]
Case Study: How Raising a Middle Credit Score® by 70 Points Saved $20,000 in Mortgage Interest
Case Study: How Raising a Middle Credit Score® by 70 Points Saved $20,000 in Mortgage Interest Meet Erin Caldwell, a schoolteacher from Des Moines, Iowa, who managed to improve her Middle Credit Score® by 70 points in less than a year—and saved over $20,000 in mortgage interest in the process. Her story demonstrates how targeted […]
Case Study: Buying a Home with a Middle Credit Score® of 620—Real Strategies That Worked
Case Study: Buying a Home with a Middle Credit Score® of 620—Real Strategies That Worked For many prospective homeowners, hearing that a score below 700 disqualifies them from buying a home is enough to delay their dream. But for Kevin and Monica Alvarez, a young couple living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a Middle Credit Score® […]
Case Study: From Renting to Owning—How One Renter Used Credit Improvement to Purchase a Home
Case Study: From Renting to Owning—How One Renter Used Credit Improvement to Purchase a Home For nearly a decade, Jamal Richards rented a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburban area just outside Charlotte, North Carolina. Though he dreamed of owning a home, he always believed his credit score—along with a lack of down payment funds—would […]
Case Study: Overcoming Bankruptcy—How One Homebuyer Qualified for a Mortgage in Just 18 Months
Case Study: Overcoming Bankruptcy—How One Homebuyer Qualified for a Mortgage in Just 18 Months When Lisa Bennett filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at the age of 33, she never thought she’d be a homeowner again—let alone within two years. After losing her job during an unexpected round of corporate layoffs, followed by a medical emergency […]
Case Study: Turning Rejection into Approval- How a Couple Bought Their Dream Home After Repairing Their Credit
Case Study: Turning Rejection into Approval- How a Couple Bought Their Dream Home After Repairing Their Credit When Mariah and Jerome Walker first applied for a mortgage, they were filled with hope. They had found what they believed to be their dream home: a four-bedroom craftsman nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac, ideal for raising their […]