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First time Home buyer - Mortgage prequalification question

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MovingForward_2012
Valued Contributor

Re: First time Home buyer - Mortgage prequalification question

If you provide the county in which you are looking to purchase a home, I can provide the limit for that county. The file on the HUD.gov website is filled with number codes for each county in the US. I figured out which block corresponded to the purchase limits.
Cards: Orchard Bank ($1100) | Cap1 Cash Rewards ($2500) | Chase Freedom ($1000) | Best Buy ($2500) | Discover It ($1000) | Barclay Rewards ($2500) | Current scores: EX FAKO: 684, CK TU: 649, FICO EQ: 680, FICO TU: 698, FICO EX: 658 Happy Homeowner Since 2/6/13! Smiley Happy Last App: 4/5/13 Gardening until July 2014
Message 11 of 13
TnTNYC
Established Member

Re: First time Home buyer - Mortgage prequalification question

I would personally recommend paying off the CC's first regardless.  Even though you may qualify for a mortgage at present, your terms would likely be less-than-ideal.  In my case, I ran into some issues not too long ago after changing jobs, moving and then being the only earner at home.  Paying off the credit cards was critical, and in doing so freed us up to clean up our credit scores and give us a generally better standard of living.

 

Cheers!


Starting Score: 707 (Experian); 702 (Equifax); 740 (TransUnion)
Current Score: 776 (Experian); 753 (Equifax); 780 (TransUnion) as of 09/11/2014
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Message 12 of 13
MovingForward_2012
Valued Contributor

Re: First time Home buyer - Mortgage prequalification question

For FHA, PMI is not required with 10% or more down. So going conventional may or may not give you a better interest rate. It depends on your credit score. With FHA, the majority of qualified buyers are lumped into larger groups, meaning a person with a borderline score can get the same rate as someone who has 40 pts above them. What I just stated has hypothetical figures to make a point.
Cards: Orchard Bank ($1100) | Cap1 Cash Rewards ($2500) | Chase Freedom ($1000) | Best Buy ($2500) | Discover It ($1000) | Barclay Rewards ($2500) | Current scores: EX FAKO: 684, CK TU: 649, FICO EQ: 680, FICO TU: 698, FICO EX: 658 Happy Homeowner Since 2/6/13! Smiley Happy Last App: 4/5/13 Gardening until July 2014
Message 13 of 13
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