The term credit can mean many things. For most people, it is the ability to borrow today and pay later. The idea of “credit-worthiness” defines our personal finances, and reaches out to all parts of our financial lives. Credit can be an accounting term. You can talk about credit cards, your credit history, your credit score, or the three credits you got in college for taking Bowling. This page is the credit nerve center of ThinkGlink.com. From this page you can learn more about what credit means and how having good, bad, or mediocre credit affects your personal finances.
Mortgage Delinquency is Down, Credit Delinquency is Up
Mortgage delinquency rates are down, credit delinquencies are up. CoreLogic reports 30-day-plus delinquency is the lowest it’s been in over a decade. It’s a good news, not-so-good news situation. First, the good news: More people are paying their mortgages on time. Unfortunately, credit delinquencies are up as more people are having trouble getting their credit [...]
Will Buying a House Hurt My Credit?
Will buying a house hurt your credit? Research on how taking out a mortgage impacts your credit score is finally here to answer this age-old question. Your credit score will fall an average of 15 points over a period of four months after buying a house, according to consumer analysis by LendingTree. More specifically, your [...]
How to Save Money on Holiday Travel
How can you save money on holiday travel? Strategic planning can spare you from financial stress over the holiday season. A vast number of Americans will travel this upcoming holiday season, if last year’s number of holiday travelers are any indication. In 2017, a record 107 million Americans left their homes to travel over the [...]
Dave Ramsey Says FICO Credit Scores Are Irrelevant
Dave Ramsey says credit scores are irrelevant. Are they? A WSB listener claims Dave Ramsey says to get out of debt and that FICO credit scores are not what they seem. Dave Ramsey says FICO credit scores are the "I love debt" score because there's no way to get a great FICO credit score without getting into debt and staying in debt. While I agree with a lot of what Dave Ramsey says, I disagree with that premise. Here's why I think FICO credit scores are relevant to your life today.
Credit Card Terms May Change
Trouble in the stock market and the economy recently has affected credit card companies just like any other business. You may think that if you pay your credit card bill on time every month and never go over your limit, that you're safe. Credit card companies may change the terms of your credit card at any time. What kinds of changes can credit card companies make? Does your behavior affect what action a credit card company takes on your credit limit?
What’s My Credit Score And How Do I Raise It?
Before you even think about buying a home, you should ask yourself two questions: "What's my credit score?" and "How do I raise it?" Knowing your credit score will help you negotiate a good interest rate on your mortgage, and if you can raise your score, you'll get a loan with a lower interest rate.
Annual Free Credit Report
The only site where to get an annual free credit report is annualcreditreport.com. Ads that offer a free annual credit report aren't free and will still ask for a credit card number. You credit score isn't free, and usually costs about $7 along with the annual free credit report.
Credit Repair Agency Scams Increase
Credit repair scams abound in economic times like these: A shaky economy, record levels of foreclosures, a rising number of bankruptcies, credit card delinquencies, and late mortgage payments. Repairing bad credit takes more than paying a $1,000 fee. Beware of those promising to repair your credit by getting you a new Social Security number.
Credit Card Rates May Change
If you're thinking about getting a new credit card make sure to read all the terms you can prior to applying. You don't want to get blindsided after you have the card. It's easier to read the terms in advance than close the card and get dinged on your credit history. Credit card interest rates can zoom up at a moment's notice, but you can take steps to keep your rate low.
Low Credit Score Means Higher Interest Rate
A low credit score will lead to challenges when trying to get a home loan. The interest rate will depend on what kind of credit you're looking for. It's also possibly that you won't qualify for a loan with a credit score of 500.