Main Street Home Loans September 13, 2023

How to Improve Your Credit Score for Better Mortgage Rates

Guest Blog from: Trent Riggs (NMLS 2143938), Home Loan Consultant with Main Street Home Loans

Improving your credit score is a strategic way to secure a better mortgage rate, potentially saving you thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Here’s a guide on how to enhance your credit score for a more favorable mortgage rate:

  • Check Your Credit Reports: Request free copies of your credit reports from the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Review them for errors, such as incorrect accounts or late payments, and dispute any inaccuracies.
  • Pay Bills on Time: Payment history is a significant factor in your credit score. Ensure all your bills, including credit cards, loans, and utilities, are paid on time. Set up reminders or automatic payments to avoid missed due dates.
  • Reduce Credit Card Balances: Lower your credit card balances to decrease your credit utilization ratio (credit card balances compared to credit limits). Aim to keep your utilization below 30% to positively impact your score.
  • Avoid Opening New Accounts: Each credit inquiry can slightly lower your score. Avoid opening multiple new credit accounts in a short period, as this can signal increased risk to lenders.
  • Maintain Old Accounts:
    The age of your credit accounts matters. Keep older accounts open, as a longer credit history can have a positive effect on your score.
  • Diversify Your Credit Mix: Having a mix of different types of credit accounts, such as credit cards, installment loans, and a mortgage, can benefit your credit score. However, only open accounts you truly need.
  • Pay Off Collection Accounts: Address any outstanding collection accounts. Negotiate with creditors to settle or pay off these accounts, as they can significantly lower your credit score.
  • Avoid Closing Accounts: Closing credit accounts can affect your credit utilization ratio and overall credit history length. If you must close an account, prioritize newer ones.
  • Apply for Credit Sparingly: Limit new credit applications, especially before applying for a mortgage. Multiple inquiries within a short period can be seen as risky behavior.
  • Work with a Credit Counselor: If your credit needs significant improvement, consider consulting a credit counselor. They can offer personalized guidance on how to manage your debts and boost your credit score.
  • Be Patient: Improving your credit score takes time, especially if you have a history of negative marks. Consistently practicing good credit habits will yield positive results over time.
  • Monitor Your Progress: Regularly check your credit score and reports to track your progress. Many financial institutions and credit monitoring services provide tools to monitor your credit for changes.

By diligently following these steps, you can enhance your credit score, making you a more attractive borrower to lenders and potentially securing a better mortgage rate. Remember that even small improvements in your credit score can lead to significant savings over the life of your mortgage.

Reach out to your Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Agent of choice or Trent Riggs for additional information to get you started on your home owning process.


Trent Riggs, Loan Officer

NMLS # 2143938
410-490-7061
triggs@mainstreethl.com

Licensed in DE,FL,MD

Main Street Home Loans, Trent Riggs is here to make your dreams of owning a piece of this stunning shoreline a reality.

 

Agent Profiles July 24, 2023

Welcome Tinamarie Reamy

Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company Welcomes Tinamarie Reamy as Manager and Branch Vice-President of Chesapeake City Regional Sales Office

 

Easton, MDJuly 24, 2023Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company is thrilled to announce the appointment of Tinamarie Reamy as Manager and Branch Vice-President of its active Chesapeake City Regional Sales Office. A well-respected figure in the Upper Eastern Shore community, Tinamarie brings with her an impressive 23-year career in Maryland and Delaware Real Estate and a passion for mentoring and leading others.

Raised in Hockessin, Delaware, Tinamarie relocated to Cecil County, Maryland, in 1997. Alongside her husband, Jason, and their four children, one grandchild, and three beloved dogs, she currently resides in the vibrant community of Warwick, Maryland. Both Tinamarie and Jason have been active contributors to the “first responder” community, reflecting their commitment to serving others.

Tina

Tinamarie Reamy as Manager and Branch Vice-President of Chesapeake City Regional Sales Office

Tinamarie’s achievements in the real estate industry have earned her numerous accolades and recognition. Her former brand honored her with the prestigious “Chairman’s Award” in 2020, the “Platinum Award” for 2016-2019, and she was named the “Top Agent” for the region (MD/DE/PA) in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Expressing her excitement about the new opportunity, Tinamarie stated, “I am thrilled to take this next step in my real estate career. Training, mentoring, and guiding others are aspects of this profession that I truly enjoy. Real estate is a challenging business, and I believe my knowledge and experience will empower agents to be productive and build successful real estate businesses.”

In addition to her role as Manager and Branch Vice-President, Tinamarie will be a valuable addition to the Company’s Operations Committee. Her presence will provide welcome input into the strategic decision-making process, fostering the growth and development of Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company.

Hugh Smith, Broker, and Member of Coldwell Banker Chesapeake, expressed his enthusiasm for Tinamarie’s appointment, stating, “We are absolutely delighted to welcome an agent of Tinamarie’s caliber and accomplishments to our brokerage. These times are dynamic and challenging for the real estate industry, especially considering the current market conditions with soaring demand and limited supply. Additionally, external technology and litigation challenges are shaping the industry, demanding adaptive leaders. Tinamarie’s specialization in Seller representation makes her the ideal candidate to lead our Chesapeake City office during these times.”

Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company, a proud affiliate of Coldwell Banker Real Estate, the most trusted brand in the industry, was founded in 2010 in Easton, Maryland. Since its inception, the company has rapidly expanded to include Kent and Queen Anne’s County. The addition of the Chesapeake City Office in January 2018 further extended its reach to serve Cecil County, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. With over 50 agents facilitating approximately 400 transactions annually, Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company stands out due to its comprehensive training programs offered through Coldwell Banker University and Regional leaders like Tinamarie. The emphasis on training agents to leverage state-of-the-art technology to build their businesses sets them apart in the real estate market.

Tinamarie Reamy’s appointment marks an exciting chapter for Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company, and her expertise and leadership will undoubtedly propel the company towards continued success.

For media inquiries, please contact: Hugh Smith, Manager  443-786-1565 or hsmith@cbchesapeake.com

Lifestyle November 2, 2022

Refinancing Your Real Estate Investment Property

– What You Need To Know

Introduction

Refinancing your real estate investment property can be a great way to access the money you can use for any purpose, including buying more real estate.

However, it must make sense from a financial perspective—and some things could impact your ability to refinance successfully.

This article will discuss what refinancing involves and how you can use cash-out refinancing wisely to benefit your business and your finances.

Refinancing is a great way to access the money you can use for any purpose, including buying more real estate.

Refinancing is a great way to access the money you can use for any purpose, including buying more real estate. You can refinance at a lower interest rate and with a longer term.

You can use the money for any purpose, including buying more real estate

When refinancing an investment property, paying attention to the impact on your cash flow is essential.

When refinancing an investment property, paying attention to the impact on your cash flow is essential. Cash flow is how much you bring in from rental income minus your expenses. If a loan payment leaves less than enough money for the mortgage and other expenses, then you may need to sell or refinance again.

Remember: The goal of refinancing isn’t necessarily to buy more real estate—it’s just another way of making sure that all of your costs are covered by what was brought in from rent or other sources during that period (and no more).

Consider whether it makes more sense to refinance your first mortgage or do a cash-out refinance.

While there are many factors to consider when deciding whether it makes more sense to refinance just your first mortgage or do a cash-out refinance, one thing you should consider is the impact on your cash flow.

If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, refinancing may be an option that will allow you to obtain lower rates than what was previously available.

This can make investing in real estate more affordable and affordable homes more attainable for families who want them but don’t have enough money saved up yet.

It’s cheaper to refinance all your properties, not just one (which is pretty expensive), than to refinance just one property’s loan.

You could save money if you had lower interest rates on your balances now instead of later down the road due to back taxes owed for the same reasons mentioned above.”

Refinancing may be particularly beneficial if you have a fixed-rate mortgage.

Refinancing may be particularly beneficial if you have a fixed-rate mortgage and are looking to lower your interest rate.

Fixed-rate loans are more predictable than variable-rate mortgages and tend to offer lower initial interest rates than their variable counterparts. The longer your loan is locked in at a low rate, the more money you’ll save.

You can also lock in low rates for an entire year or multiple years if you refinance with another lender at once.

Even if interest rates go up later (usually around six months later), it won’t change the amount of money you put into principal payments after both parties involved with refinancing efforts have locked them in.

Refinancing can be done through the lender who currently holds your loan.

You can refinance through the lender who currently holds your loan or another lending institution. If you want to refinance through the same lender, ensure they still have a good relationship with you. If not, it could cause problems in the future if things go wrong and they don’t want to help out.

If you choose not to stay with your current lender but instead want another one, then make sure that both companies have similar interest rates on their loans (both fixed rate and adjustable).

You’ll need to have enough equity in your property to refinance successfully.

You’ll need to have enough equity in your property to refinance successfully. If you don’t have enough equity, you could get a loan for more than the value of your home and still be unable to afford the payments.

To calculate how much debt would be required on an FHA-insured mortgage with a 20% down payment and closing costs of $10,000 (the average amount for first-time buyers), multiply these figures together:

  • Your monthly mortgage payment times 12 months = $12^2 = $144/monthly balance owed after 30 years at a 6% interest rate (1%) compounded annually

Lenders will consider your credit score and income when determining whether and how much they can lend you.

To get the best loan terms, you must ensure your credit score is in one of the top tiers. The most common credit scores are 300-850, but lenders will consider your income and assets when determining how much they can lend you.

If your FICO score is outside the range that lenders prefer, they may reject your application altogether or offer significantly less favorable terms than others with higher scores.

For example, if an investor has a FICO score below 650 but has enough cash flow from other sources, such as rental income or investments held outside their home (such as stocks), this could help improve their chances of securing a mortgage loan.

Cash-out refinancing is easy to access additional funds for any purpose, but it must make sense from a financial perspective.

Cash-out refinancing is easy to access additional funds for any purpose, but it must make sense from a financial perspective. Lenders will consider your credit score and income when determining whether and how much they can lend you.

They’ll also want to know that the property will continue to be profitable to justify their risk.

Suppose you have enough equity in your property (the amount of money left after debt payments). In that case, it may be possible for lenders to approve cash-out refinance requests even if there aren’t any other funding sources available.

However, if there is more equity or the property has negative equity (money owed against the value), refinancing may only be possible if other assets or properties could be used as collateral on this loan.

Conclusion

If you’ve been considering refinancing your investment property but haven’t had the time to go through the process, you should know a few things. First, you must find out what loan option is best for your situation.

For example, if you have low equity in your property and want to refinance but don’t qualify for any commercial loans because of this, then cash-out refinancing might be right for you! This loan allows borrowers access to more money than traditional ones while maintaining their current monthly payments.

They can continue building wealth over time without worrying about increasing their debt burden. With all these options available at our website (https://cbchesapeake.com), we hope we can help answer some questions about how refinancing works so that now when our customers ask themselves whether or not they should do so – they’ll know exactly what needs doing next!!