Home Finance?
December 16, 2008
Simply D asked:
I’m 23 years old and would like to consider financing a home in the next 2-5 years, I want to know what kind of things do I need to be concerned about with my credit? How can I increase my score and what do I need to know about financing a home to get a good value and a good deal. Personal experience are greatly appreciated. Thank you all.
I’m 23 years old and would like to consider financing a home in the next 2-5 years, I want to know what kind of things do I need to be concerned about with my credit? How can I increase my score and what do I need to know about financing a home to get a good value and a good deal. Personal experience are greatly appreciated. Thank you all.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
First, build a large down payment. This is an almost irresistible part of the financing game. But just because you have put together say 15% of the price of a house over 5 years tells you that your saving skills are starting to work.
Do not take out loans and pay them off to increase your score. It works against item 1, building the DP.
Rather, have a couple credit cards that you use to pay for things you buy, but religiously pay them off, completely, every month, well before due date.
Avoid buying cars or other big ticket items that ‘require financing’. If you buy any of them, do it on your credit card, but again pay off the credit card that month.
Avoid those sales that allow you to make no down payment, or no payment this year. You can always negotiate a cash reduction. They really do prefer cash, they really do prefer to make a sale rather than have you walk out.
As your savings grow, you should be investing, not just buying bank deposit notes.
If you do a good job of investing, even living in rented accommodation can be a sound economy.