27
Jan
By Fred Gruber
Real Estate

How to Qualify for a Mortgage With No Credit Score

Understand What Having No Credit Score Really Means
Having no credit score is not the same as having bad credit. Bad credit comes from late payments or high balances. No credit simply means you do not use credit often enough for the credit bureaus to generate a score. Lenders can work with this situation, but they need other ways to see your financial reliability. This is where non-traditional credit comes in.

Build a Non-Traditional Credit Profile
When you do not have a traditional score, lenders look for consistent payment history in other areas. They may ask for twelve months of on-time payments for things like rent, utility bills, cellphone bills, streaming services, car insurance, or childcare. These records show that you manage your financial responsibilities, even without credit cards or loans. Keeping clean, on-time payment history helps strengthen your mortgage application.

Show Stable Income and a Strong Employment Record
Income stability plays a much bigger role when you do not have a credit score. Lenders want to see consistent earnings and steady work history, usually for at least two years. Whether you are hourly, salaried, or self-employed, your income needs to show predictability. Pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements all help demonstrate that you can handle a long-term mortgage payment.

Save for a Comfortable Down Payment
A strong down payment can offset the lack of a credit score. The more you contribute upfront, the lower the lender’s risk. Some loan programs allow smaller down payments for buyers without credit, but saving extra can make approval easier and may help you secure a better rate. A strong savings history also shows lenders that you manage your money responsibly.

Work With a Lender Who Handles Manual Underwriting
Manual underwriting is a review process where a real person evaluates your financial habits instead of relying on an automated system. This is often used for borrowers with no credit score. Not all lenders offer manual underwriting, so finding the right mortgage professional matters. With manual underwriting, your payment history, income stability, and savings habits carry more weight.

Having no credit score does not mean you cannot become a homeowner. With consistent payment history, strong income, responsible budgeting, and the right lender, you can qualify for a mortgage and move forward with confidence. Preparation is the key, and the steps you take now will help you make a stronger financial impression when you apply.

09
Jan
By Fred Gruber
Home Buyer Tips

Why Closing Old Credit Accounts Can Hurt Your Mortgage Approval

When you are preparing to buy a home, it is natural to want your credit profile to look clean and organized. Many buyers think closing old credit accounts will improve their score, simplify their finances, and make them appear more responsible to lenders. In reality, closing old accounts can have the opposite effect. Those accounts play a much bigger role in your credit profile than most people realize and shutting them down can create sudden changes that impact your mortgage approval.

Understand How Closed Accounts Affect Your Credit History

Your credit history length is a major part of your credit score. Older accounts help build a long, strong payment record, and closing them can shorten your overall history. When you close an account, it eventually stops contributing to your average age of credit. A shorter credit history can lower your score and make your credit profile look less stable, which can affect the rate you receive or your loan approval altogether.

See How Closing Accounts Impacts Your Credit Utilization

Credit utilization is the percentage of available credit you are currently using. When you close an old card with a high limit, your total available credit drops instantly. This makes your utilization ratio go up, even if your spending stays the same. A higher utilization ratio can lower your score, and lenders view it as a sign of financial stress. Keeping older accounts open gives you more available credit and a healthier utilization ratio.

Know Why Lenders Look Closely at Recent Credit Changes

Lenders prefer to see stable, predictable financial behavior. Closing accounts shortly before applying for a mortgage can look risky because it changes your credit profile right before a major purchase. Even if your intentions are good, lenders may worry that you are trying to manage debt abruptly or hide financial strain. Consistency is key, and the fewer sudden changes you make before applying, the better.

Understand the Value of Long-Term On-Time Payments

Old accounts with long histories of on-time payments help strengthen your credit profile. These accounts show lenders that you have managed credit responsibly for years. Closing them removes some of that positive history from your active credit mix. Even if the account stays on your report for a while, the impact weakens over time. Keeping these accounts open preserves your strongest credit advantages.

Avoid Making Changes Right Before a Mortgage Application

A mortgage application is not the time to reset or rearrange your credit accounts. If you want to simplify your finances, it is best to do it after closing on your home. Before applying, avoid closing cards, opening new ones, or making large changes to your credit usage. The goal is to show lenders stability, steady habits, and a well-managed credit profile.

Closing old accounts may seem like a smart cleanup strategy, but it often hurts more than it helps during mortgage approval. By keeping your accounts open, maintaining low balances, and staying consistent, you can protect your score and present a stronger, more stable financial picture when you apply for a home loan.

30
Dec
By Fred Gruber
Mortgage Tips

How the Sharing Economy Is Changing Mortgage Underwriting

The rise of the sharing economy has changed the way many people work, earn, and budget. Income from rideshare driving, freelance projects, short-term rentals, and delivery apps has become a normal part of modern finances. These new income streams are helpful for building savings and paying bills, but they also affect how lenders view your mortgage application. Understanding how the sharing economy influences underwriting can help you prepare for a smooth approval process.

Know How Lenders View Non-Traditional Income
Income from rideshare apps, delivery platforms, online marketplaces, and short-term rental hosting does not flow through a traditional payroll system. Because of this, lenders need more documentation to verify it. They want to see that your income is stable, predictable, and tied to real work, not one-time payments. If you earn through the sharing economy, tax returns, bank statements, and year-to-date income summaries become essential.

Understand the Need for a Two-Year Income History
For most non-traditional income, lenders look for at least two years of consistent earnings. This history helps them confirm that your sharing economy income is reliable. If your earnings change throughout the year, lenders will average your income to determine the amount they can use for your mortgage approval. This means the sooner you begin tracking and documenting your income, the stronger your application will be.

Keep Business and Personal Transactions Separate
One of the biggest challenges with sharing economy income is separating business earnings from personal transfers. Mixing these payments can confuse underwriters, especially if deposits look inconsistent. Opening a separate bank account for your sharing economy work helps create a clean paper trail. It makes your financial profile clearer, and it reduces the number of questions lenders must ask during underwriting.

Track Your Expenses and Deductions Carefully
Many sharing economy workers write off business expenses such as mileage, equipment, supplies, and maintenance. These deductions can reduce your taxable income, but they also reduce the income lenders can use. If your deductions are too high, your reported income may appear lower than what you actually earn. Before applying for a mortgage, review your tax returns and consider how your deductions might affect your qualifying amount.

Consider the Impact of Short-Term Rental Income
Short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo have created new income opportunities for homeowners. Some lenders allow this income to be used for qualification, but only with strong documentation. You may need a history of rental bookings, proof of ownership, tax filings, and evidence that the property is permitted for short-term rentals. Clear records help lenders feel confident that the income will continue.

The sharing economy has opened up flexible earning options, but it also creates new considerations during mortgage underwriting. With careful documentation, clean bank statements, and long-term consistency, you can strengthen your application and show lenders that your income is reliable and stable.