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DP or Pay off CC Debts...Help please!

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Anonymous
Not applicable

DP or Pay off CC Debts...Help please!

So here's the thing, after having a recent derog removed from my credit report, my score jumped from 563 (EQ lender pull 5/6) to mid score of 622. (EQ lender pull 6/25). According to LO, they can use that score for FHA with 3.5 DP at 4% interest rate if I lock in now. However, we were trying to qualify for DP assistance and the score needed is 650. We have cash that we're saving in case we didn't qualify for DP assistance, but the LO mentioned two scenarios and I can't decide. 1- Just pay the DP with our savings and forget about the DP assistance, or 2 - use the cash or some of it to pay off the CCs, do a rapid rescore and hope that it gives us the additional 28 points to qualify for DP assistance. We have about 12k in savings, and our CC debt are as follows: CC 1 - 4500/ 6300 CC 2 - 2400 / 3200 CC 3 - 1600/ 2500 CC 4 - 315/ 1000 CC 5 - 295/ 1005 If we choose scenario 2 and end up getting 650, then we'd be debt free by the time the mortgage kicks in and we'll have extra cash to use for moving expenses. But my fear is, if we don't end up getting 650, then we wouldn't have enough left for the DP Smiley Sad What do I do? Help please...
Message 1 of 10
9 REPLIES 9
BungalowMo
Senior Contributor

Re: DP or Pay off CC Debts...Help please!


Chocoholic73 wrote:
So here's the thing, after having a recent derog removed from my credit report, my score jumped from 563 (EQ lender pull 5/6) to mid score of 622. (EQ lender pull 6/25). According to LO, they can use that score for FHA with 3.5 DP at 4% interest rate if I lock in now. However, we were trying to qualify for DP assistance and the score needed is 650. We have cash that we're saving in case we didn't qualify for DP assistance, but the LO mentioned two scenarios and I can't decide. 1- Just pay the DP with our savings and forget about the DP assistance, or 2 - use the cash or some of it to pay off the CCs, do a rapid rescore and hope that it gives us the additional 28 points to qualify for DP assistance. We have about 12k in savings, and our CC debt are as follows: CC 1 - 4500/ 6300 CC 2 - 2400 / 3200 CC 3 - 1600/ 2500 CC 4 - 315/ 1000 CC 5 - 295/ 1005 If we choose scenario 2 and end up getting 650, then we'd be debt free by the time the mortgage kicks in and we'll have extra cash to use for moving expenses. But my fear is, if we don't end up getting 650, then we wouldn't have enough left for the DP Smiley Sad What do I do? Help please...


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

Here's my idea....by paying (at least) the amounts below, 2 cards will be paid off (you know FICO scores on how many cards carry balances, no matter the limits) and all 3 of the others will be at least under 50%.  If you have other cards with a zero balance, that will reflect in an even more positive light.  The rest can be applied to a down payment.  I am not fully sure how the rapid rescore works, but this has to be done after those payments are made & (I believe) posted to the bureaus.  See what the new FICO's are & move forward from there.  If you can, put even more toward that first card & get all with balances under 30%.

 

CC 1 - 4500/ 6300  $1500  bal will be approx 47%

 

CC 2 - 2400 / 3200  $1200  bal will be approx 28%

 

CC 3 - 1600/ 2500  $1000  bal will be approx 26%

 

CC 4 - 315/ 1000    PIF

 

CC 5 - 295/ 1005    PIF


GOOD LUCK AND I HOPE YOU GET YOUR HOUSE!!!!  Smiley Wink

BK 7 discharge 06.24.2020 No Fico score at all. Smiley Sad
Message 2 of 10
StartingOver10
Moderator Emerita

Re: DP or Pay off CC Debts...Help please!


@BungalowMo wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:
So here's the thing, after having a recent derog removed from my credit report, my score jumped from 563 (EQ lender pull 5/6) to mid score of 622. (EQ lender pull 6/25). According to LO, they can use that score for FHA with 3.5 DP at 4% interest rate if I lock in now. However, we were trying to qualify for DP assistance and the score needed is 650. We have cash that we're saving in case we didn't qualify for DP assistance, but the LO mentioned two scenarios and I can't decide. 1- Just pay the DP with our savings and forget about the DP assistance, or 2 - use the cash or some of it to pay off the CCs, do a rapid rescore and hope that it gives us the additional 28 points to qualify for DP assistance. We have about 12k in savings, and our CC debt are as follows: CC 1 - 4500/ 6300 CC 2 - 2400 / 3200 CC 3 - 1600/ 2500 CC 4 - 315/ 1000 CC 5 - 295/ 1005 If we choose scenario 2 and end up getting 650, then we'd be debt free by the time the mortgage kicks in and we'll have extra cash to use for moving expenses. But my fear is, if we don't end up getting 650, then we wouldn't have enough left for the DP Smiley Sad What do I do? Help please...


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

Here's my idea....by paying (at least) the amounts below, 2 cards will be paid off (you know FICO scores on how many cards carry balances, no matter the limits) and all 3 of the others will be at least under 50%.  If you have other cards with a zero balance, that will reflect in an even more positive light.  The rest can be applied to a down payment.  I am not fully sure how the rapid rescore works, but this has to be done after those payments are made & (I believe) posted to the bureaus.  See what the new FICO's are & move forward from there.  If you can, put even more toward that first card & get all with balances under 30%.

 

CC 1 - 4500/ 6300  $1500  bal will be approx 47%

 

CC 2 - 2400 / 3200  $1200  bal will be approx 28%

 

CC 3 - 1600/ 2500  $1000  bal will be approx 26%

 

CC 4 - 315/ 1000    PIF

 

CC 5 - 295/ 1005    PIF


GOOD LUCK AND I HOPE YOU GET YOUR HOUSE!!!!  Smiley Wink


I agree with the above post except for one thing...see if you can pay off cc 3 totally so you have 3 cards reporting zero balance and the other two as above. You should get a very decent score bump even if the one is reporting a 47% utilization. Those zero balance cards will really help boost your score.

Message 3 of 10
JusdoNit
Established Contributor

Re: DP or Pay off CC Debts...Help please!

Paying off the 3 cards will go a long ways and as you chip away at the other two cards you will see even better resultsSmiley Wink


Starting Score: 722
Current Score: Now 687 what the hockey sticks...from a 784 (Aug 12 EX 751 EQ Fico)
Goal Score: 800

If your outGo is more than your INcome than your UpKeep will become your downFALL.

Take the FICO Fitness Challenge


Message 4 of 10
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: DP or Pay off CC Debts...Help please!

It really depends on what bucket you are in for how much of a bump, if any, you will get when you pay down balances. For most people, card balances at 0 while having 1 or more others over 10% utilitization will not gain many score points, if any, if you have recent (last 24 months) collections. Unfortunately, you do not seem to have time to experiment. If it were me, I would plan my budget, run the numbers, and look at short term and long term results and plan accordingly. While the immediate goal of getting a mortgage is important, it is not as important as long term financial health. And, no matter how much urgency you feel you have, you can usually wait while you take steps to get set on a long term journey that leads to the right place instead of taking quick steps leading to a lesser destination.

Message 5 of 10
GoodCredBen
Valued Contributor

Re: DP or Pay off CC Debts...Help please!

I gained quite a few points from getting under 10% util.... that being said i gained no point bump from 10-30%....

 

Depending on how much you have in the bank, i would try to pay down the two that carry the largest balances....

 

Paying 4500 down on the first one will only get you down to 32% util (from your current 60%) ...

 

paying down to 32% more then likely will not provide a large score bump....

 

Paying down the top two will get you down to about 14% give or take a couple % points.... This may not provide as large of a score bump as you need either......

 

IMHO, i would pay the down payment your own, and work on getting these down over time.... no reason to risk not being able to get the house because you paid your CC's down for it not to help as much as you need......

 

 

 

 

My credit journey has completed. I am currently sitting at 800+ across the board.

I started my journey here years ago, and thanks to MyFico, it really is possible.
Message 6 of 10
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: DP or Pay off CC Debts...Help please!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I really appreciate it. i actually went ahead and PIF CC 2, 4 and 5. For CC 1, I reduced the balance to 3k, and for CC 3, I brought the balance down to 1200. I have a total of 12 cards, 10 of which are now reporting zero, and 2 cards at about 47% util ( from being maxed out about 3 months ago). Total util is now down to 24 from 68% as of last month CR. Did the rapid rescore and now waiting for results. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will get us to the 650 score that we need. I already got a Credit Sesame alert that my EX scores jumped from 637 to 674, I know it's a FAKO score, but still, it keeps my hopes alive Smiley Happy Will keep everyone posted. Thank again guys!
Message 7 of 10
GoodCredBen
Valued Contributor

Re: DP or Pay off CC Debts...Help please!

Awesome! let us know!

My credit journey has completed. I am currently sitting at 800+ across the board.

I started my journey here years ago, and thanks to MyFico, it really is possible.
Message 8 of 10
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: DP or Pay off CC Debts...Help please!

Sorry for the delayed update! Waiting for the rapid rescore for a week has been stressful, but after all the payments posted, my scores were (drumroll)..,,,, 652 on TU and 647 on EQ. EX was 623 from 610 but EQ was my middle score and I didn't request for a rapid rescore on EXP so I don't have an idea how many points I could have gotten there. I have mixed emotions, coz I didn't qualify for the Down Payment Assistance Program , but the good thing is that I was able to bring down my util from 68% to 24% ( and to 9% by next week) which raised my scores high enough to qualify for 3.25% rate on regular FHA, which I believe is a way better deal. We have saved enough to cover the needed funds to close plus, we'll be going into this mortgage with only the house and the car payments to think about. I feel good about the fact that I have finally broken free from the clutches of my credit cards, and this is a situation that I wouldn't want to be in ever again. Thanks to everyone and to my fico for the wealth of information that I have received in the past few months. Couldn't have done it without you guys Smiley Happy
Message 9 of 10
GoodCredBen
Valued Contributor

Re: DP or Pay off CC Debts...Help please!

Awesome!!!!

 

Congrats!!!!!

My credit journey has completed. I am currently sitting at 800+ across the board.

I started my journey here years ago, and thanks to MyFico, it really is possible.
Message 10 of 10
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