Credit Explained

 

Credit CardsWhat's all this commotion over credit? Your credit rating has a lot to do with purchasing San Antonio real estate (and anywhere else in the country), and many times is the determining factor that makes your next purchase smooth or a very ugly road.

Each person owes it to themselves to keep a close eye on their credit. I've seen an increase of incoming clients whose records show traces of identity theft, which many times are just self discovered when undergoing the loan process.

It shouldn't be this way! You should consistently monitor your credit throughout the year; I recommend a at least three times a year. Checking your credit isn't at all hard; now there's a way to get your credit report for free. That's right; you can get your credit report three times a year and not have to pay a single dime for it.

If you want to minimize headaches before buying your next piece of San Antonio real estate, be sure that your reports are free of collections, late-pays, and inquiries. This will overall improve your score and make acquiring a loan an easy process to endure.

Please read on to learn how credit plays a role in acquiring your next San Antonio real estate investment, and how to get all three bureau reports for free.

Credit Bureaus

There are three different credit bureaus: Equifax, Transunion, and Experian. If you've ever considered financing a car or getting a loan from you bank, you've undoubtedly come across Equifax's Beacon score rating. The other two bureaus still have their own scores for you, but many times you'll find the score to be different.

In real estate, they will take the middle of your three credit scores. For example, if you have a 623, 645, 635, your loan officer will be able to get you different loan programs based on your 635 score.

 

REMEMBER: Pulling your own credit WILL NOT affect your score, nor will it give any inquiries. So don't worry about pulling your credit periodically for review. In fact, I recommend it just to check for mistakes, unknown accounts (identity theft), etc.

Below you will find the contact information for each bureau. This is also where you can send letters to dispute late pays, inquiries, etc.

AnnualCreditReport.com is the ONLY authorized source for the free annual credit report that's yours by law. The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to your credit report for free from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission has received complaints from consumers who thought they were ordering their free annual credit report, and yet couldn't get it without paying fees or buying other services. TV ads, email offers, or online search results may tout "free" credit reports, but there is only one authorized source for a truly free credit report.

    • Equifax
      Equifax Credit Information Services, Inc
      P.O. Box 740241
      Atlanta, GA 30374
      To order report: 1-800-685-1111
      To report fraud: 1-800-525-6285
      Web site: www.equifax.com

 

    • Experian (formerly TRW)
      National Consumer Assistance Center
      PO Box 2002
      Allen, TX 75013
      To order report: 1-888-397-3742
      To report fraud: 1-888-397-3742
      Web site: www.experian.com

 

    • TransUnion LLC
      Consumer Disclosure Center
      P.O. Box 1000
      Chester, PA 19022
      To order report: 1-800-888-4213
      To report fraud: 1-800-916-8800
      Web site: www.transunion.com