Understanding Credit Scores for Kentucky Mortgage Loan Approval
Why do some mortgage lenders require a certain credit score whereas other mortgage lenders may not?
One Word Mortgage Overlays. Some lenders will institute a higher credit score than the minimum below to lessen their risk of having to buy the loan back from the government agencies if they get too many mortgage defaults. In order to protect their lending portfolio and hedging their risk, they will require say a 640 credit score or higher for a FHA loan, whereas the guidelines clearly state you can do a FHA loan with a minimum credit score of 580 To understand mortgage overlays, it helps to have a foundation of how the mortgage approval process works. Mortgage lenders always have underwriting guidelines—standards to determine the amount and terms you qualify for.
Credit Score Minimum guidelines are typically set based on the mortgage program, e.g., FHA, VA, or USDA. FHA, --
What score does the Mortgage Lender Use? Why may it be different than the one you are seeing?
The reason mortgage lenders use older FICO Scores is because they don’t have a choice. They are essentially forced to use them.
For a bank to sell a mortgage to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, FHA VA, USDA, Etc, the loan has to meet certain guidelines. Some of these guidelines require borrowers to have a minimum credit score under specific FICO Score generations.
If you’re planning to apply for a mortgage, be aware that the credit score you see on your application might differ slightly from the one you’re used to.
It might even be different than what comes up when you monitor your credit, or even when you apply for a car loan.
Banks use a slightly different credit score model when evaluating mortgage applicants. Below, we go over what you need to know about credit scores you’re looking to buy a home.
The scoring model used in mortgage applications
While the FICO® 8 model is the most widely used scoring model for general lending decisions, banks use the following FICO scores when you apply for a mortgage:
FICO® Score 2 (Experian)
FICO® Score 5 (Equifax)
FICO® Score 4 (TransUnion)
As you can see, each of the three main credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) use a slightly different version of the industry-specific FICO Score. That’s because FICO tweaks and tailors its scoring model to best predict the creditworthiness for different industries and bureaus. You’re still evaluated on the same core factors (payment history, credit use, credit mix and age of your accounts), but the categories are weighed a little bit differently.
The FICO 8 model is known for being more critical of high balances on revolving credit lines. Since revolving credit is less of a factor when it comes to mortgages, the FICO 2, 4 and 5 models, which put less emphasis on credit utilization, have proven to be reliable when evaluating good candidates for a mortgage.
Mortgage lenders pull all three reports, from all three bureaus, but they only use one when making their final decision.
“A bank will use all three bureaus,”--- “It’s called a tri-merge.”
If all three of your scores are the same, then their choice is simple. But what if your scores are different?
Contact Joel Lobb for Expert Mortgage Advice
Joel Lobb is an experienced Mortgage Loan Officer , Inc. specializing in helping Kentucky homebuyers navigate credit and mortgage processes.
Contact Information:
- Text/Call: 502-905-3708
- Email: kentuckyloan@gmail.com
- Website: www.mylouisvillekentuckymortgage.com
Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes and does not guarantee approval or represent underwriting guidelines. Always consult with your lender for personalized advice.
If you'd like any adjustments or additional details, let me know!
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