Who Experian Boost May Be Best Suited For
Experian Boost may be best for an individual who has been making on-time cell phone, utility and/or service payments for some time but has never opened a credit card or another type of loan account.
Experian Boost doesnt work for everyone, though. The free feature is best suited for individuals who pay their telecom, utility or service bills through an eligible account. If the feature doesnt work for you, you can try other methods to boost your credit scores.
Nevertheless, with how fast it is to set up an account with Experian and start the process, it might provide an easy way to raise your credit score by a few points.
What Is A Typical Credit Score For A Mortgage
A lot of mortgage lenders like your credit score to be as high as possible because it shows them that you’ve been good with credit in the past. But because there isn’t a universally recognised ‘typical’ credit score, and because of this, there isnt a ‘typical’ credit score for a mortgage. There are specialist lenders who will consider your mortgage application even if you dont have a typically good credit score.
Often, mortgages for people with bad credit arent available directly to you as a borrower. Theyre only available from specialist lenders via bad credit mortgage brokers who work closely with them.
Our Mortgage Experts are all specialists who deal with bad credit mortgages every day. Make an enquiry and one of them will call you back.
Which Fico Score Generation Do Mortgage Lenders Use
The best-known credit scores are going to fall under either the FICO or VantageScore brands. There are multiple generations of each score brand, as every few years, the score developers create newer versions. So, for example, theres a VantageScore 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0.
In most lending environments outside of mortgages, its hard to know which specific credit score a lender will use to evaluate your application. And, even if you knew your lender used a FICO Score or a VantageScore credit score, you still would not know which generation of the score it is using.
For example, you may apply for an auto loan with one lender that checks your FICO Auto Score 8 based on your Experian credit report. Yet, if you apply for financing with a different auto lender, it may opt to check your VantageScore 3.0 score based on TransUnion data.
The only way to know for sure is to ask the lender which credit report and which credit score version it plans to check, but that isnt a guarantee that theyll tell you.
The mortgage industry is different. Because of the aforementioned FHFA mandate, mortgage lenders must use the following versions of FICOs scoring models:
- Experian: FICO Score 2, sometimes referred to as FICO V2 or FICO-II
- TransUnion: FICO Score 4, sometimes referred to as FICO Classic 04
- Equifax: FICO Score 5, sometimes referred to as BEACON 5.0
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Should You Use Experian Boost
Theres no harm in trying Experian Boost. Its completely free, Experian will keep your data safe and you may get a nice credit score increase.
That said, I do think boosting makes sense to some users more than to others. If your credit is already in a great shape, it might not make that much of a difference. Also, remember that lenders look into more than your credit score. For instance, if youre applying for a mortgage, the lender will scrutinize every little thing on your credit report and might not care that much if you pay your Netflix subscription on time.
On the other hand, there are a few situations where Id highly recommend boosting, including:
Could Experian Boost Actually Help You Get Approved For A Mortgage
- Experian Boost only affects your Experian-based FICO score
- Mortgage lenders use tri-merge credit reports that incorporate scores from Equifax and TransUnion as well
- It also only applies to the FICO Score 8 model and mortgage lenders often use FICO Score model 2
- Chances are it wont help when it comes to applying for a mortgage unless it applies to all three scores and the right model is used
Heres the problem when it comes to mortgages, or perhaps other types of loans as well. And even Experian says this on their website.
Some users may not see improved credit scores or approval odds, and not all banks and lenders use the credit information incorporated by Experian Boost.
Additionally, Experian Boost uses the FICO Score 8 model, and as you may have suspected, your lender may rely on a different model of FICO score, or a completely different credit score altogether.
In other words, while your FICO Score 8 may have risen 13 points thanks to Experian Boost, your mortgage lender might pull FICO Score 2, which is commonly used in mortgage lending.
So even though your FICO score may have increased from 610 to 623, enough to perhaps get approved for a mortgage backed by Fannie Mae, your lender may come back and tell you its still a 610.
Another issue is mortgage lenders rely on tri-merge credit reports, that is, credit report information from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, along with three credit scores.
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Get A Cosigner For A Credit Card Or Loan Or Become An Authorised User
If you cant get a credit builder loan, credit builder card or secured credit card then your next bet to help you improve your credit score will be to get yourself a cosigner on a credit card or loan.
You should really only do this if you are likely to repay your credit cards or loans on time and in full every month.
If you fail to make your credit card repayments on time then this may affect your co signers credit score too. If you make these repayments on time your credit score will rise and the payments will be registered on your credit file for at least 6 years.
Getting a cosigner on a credit card or loan creates a financial relationship between yourselves. This means any negative behaviour from them might affect your credit score negatively and vice versa.
A cosigner essentially allows you to qualify for credit and in some cases cheaper credit. A cosigner will also be legally responsible for any debt owed on the account if you default.
Another way to help improve your credit score is by becoming an authorised user on someone elses credit card.
The difference between authorised users and cosigners isnt that much. Becoming an authorised user on someone elses credit card will help you improve your credit score if the main card holder makes all their repayments in full and on time each month as well as keeping their credit balance low.
some credit card companies might not take you into account and may not collect this data and hence report it on your credit report.
How Can I Raise My Credit Score 100 Points In 30 Days
How to improve your credit score by 100 points in 30 daysGet a copy of your credit report.Identify the negative accounts.Dispute the negative items with the credit bureaus.Dispute Credit Inquiries.Pay down your credit card balances.Do not pay your accounts in collections.Have someone add you as an authorized user.
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What Exactly Are Credit Bureaus
Credit reporting companies work together with various types of financing institutions so that these lenders can make the best decisions about loan applications. The main purpose of credit bureaus is to ensure that the lenders have the details and information they need so that they can thoroughly assess the application before granting the individual a loan.
Mortgage Lenders Typically Use Fico Scores
The simple answer to the question is, mortgage lenders typically use your FICO score to determine if youd be a good bet for a mortgage.
You might be wondering why mortgage lenders use the FICO model.
Its simple: They have identified a strong parallel between FICO credit scores and consumers mortgage-paying performance.
Basically, the lower your FICO score is, the more likely you are to default on your mortgage.
But its not that cut-and-dried.
Mortgage lenders tend to use all three of your scores from Experian, TransUnion and Equifax to evaluate you for a home loan.
As mentioned, there are different versions of the FICO score, and each credit bureau uses a specific one to determine borrowers creditworthiness.
Here are the FICO scores mortgage lenders typically use from each bureau:
- Experian: FICO Score 2 based on Experian data also known as Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Model Version 2
- Equifax: FICO Score 5 based on Equifax data also called Equifax Beacon 5.0
- TransUnion: FICO Score 4 based on TransUnion data also called TransUnion FICO Risk Score 04
These scores, which range from 300 to 850, dominate the mortgage market because most home loans purchased or securitized by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac require them, said Alisa Glutz, licensed mortgage professional and author of the book Color My Credit.
These versions of FICO work in conjunction with the current automated underwriting systems each entity requires use of to determine loan eligibility, Glutz said.
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What Credit Score Do I Need For A Mortgage
There isnât a specific credit score you need for a mortgage, and thatâs because there isnât just one credit score.
When you make an application for a mortgage or other type of credit, lenders work out a credit score for you. This is to help them decide if they think youâll be a risk worth taking – if youâll be a responsible, reliable borrower and likely to repay the debt. Usually, a higher score means youâre seen as lower risk â the more points you score, the more chance you have of being accepted for a mortgage, and at better rates.
What Kind Of Mortgage Rate Can I Get With A Credit Score Of 750
A credit score of 750 sits between a Fair and Excellent credit rating across all the UK credit reference agencies. It’s generally a good score and will mean youll have a few different options of mortgage lenders. The exact mortgage rate youll be offered will depend on your unique circumstances, such as your employment status, the kind of property you want to buy, and the amount of deposit you have.
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What Credit Reference Agencies Do Mortgage Lenders Use
The credit reference agencies that the majority of mortgage lenders use are:
- Experian
- Equifax
- TransUnion
Lenders may just use one or a combination of credit reference agencies to make their assessment. Its important to check each credit report, as they could vary. This is because credit agencies each use different scoring systems.
What Scores And Models Are Used When Applying For A Mortgage
FICO® created different scoring models for each credit bureauExperian, TransUnion and Equifax. The commonly used FICO® Scores for mortgage lending are:
- FICO® Score 2, or Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Model v2
- FICO® Score 5, or Equifax Beacon 5
- FICO® Score 4, or TransUnion FICO® Risk Score 04
Mortgage lenders will often get a single report that contains your credit reports from each of the three credit bureaus and the associated FICO® Scores. It may base the lending decision on your middle credit score or, if you’re applying jointly with a partner, the lower middle score.
Keep this in mind when you’re trying to figure out what . If you’re looking for a mortgage that requires a minimum credit score of 580, you may need your middle score to be at least 580 based one these specific FICO® Score models.
There are exceptions, though. Mortgage lenders could use different credit scoring models for loans that aren’t secured or bought by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. You might even be able to get a mortgage if you don’t have a credit history or score at all.
Additionally, there’s a review underway that could open up the use of different credit scoring models for mortgages, even if they’re secured or bought by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. However, until there’s a change, many mortgage lenders will continue to use these three classic FICO® Scores.
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Open A Bank Account Or Credit Account
The simplest thing you can do to establish or improve your credit score is to open a bank account or any other credit account.
The longer you have this account open for the longer you will have a credit history. It usually takes 3 years from you opening an account which gets reported on your credit file before you will have any credit history which can be seen by others.
Opening a bank account also allows you to have an account on your credit file with a verified home address. This means it will be easier for you to access credit products in the future.
A bank account might also be the easiest way to a credit card as banks are more willing to offer credit cards to account holders as they can view your account history and see how credit worthy you are even if you have a low credit score.
Improve Your Credit Scores Before Applying
The FICO® Score versions used in mortgage lending and the more recently released versions, such as FICO® Score 9 and 10, have the same 300 to 850 range. VantageScore, a competing maker of credit scores, also uses that range for its latest VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0 model credit scores.
For all these scoring models, which use the information from one of your credit reports to determine your score, a higher score is better. As a result, you may notice similar trends in all your scores. This is why making on-time payments can help raise all your credit scores, while missing payments could hurt all your scores.
However, there are also differences between the scoring models. For example, the latest FICO® and VantageScore models ignore paid collection accounts and give less weight to medical collection accounts. But the older FICO® Score models continue to count collection accounts against you after you pay off the balance.
In general, whether you’re looking to buy a home or take out a different type of credit, there are a few things that can help improve all your scores:
- Pay your bills on time.
- Pay down credit card balances.
- Don’t apply for other types of credit in the months leading up to your mortgage application.
In addition to getting your application, you want to get your finances in order as well. Saving up for a larger down payment, increasing your income and paying off debts may all help you qualify for a mortgage with better terms.
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What Is Experian Boost
- A free service from credit bureau Experian that may increase your credit score instantly
- Works by adding positive payment history to your credit report for things like phone bills or even Netflix payments
- These recurring utilities and other monthly payments often arent factored into your credit history
- Average Experian Boost users see their Experian-based FICO Score 8 rise by 13 points
As the name suggests, its a credit score boosting program from credit reporting company Experian, which together with Equifax and TransUnion, makes up the three major credit bureaus.
How it works is fairly simple you sign up for Experian Boost, then connect your bank account to your profile.
This essentially provides read-only access to your bank account history, allowing Experian to quickly scan and find qualifying payment history.
Once the scan is complete, you can choose and verify any positive payment history youd like added to your credit file.
So if you have a Netflix bill youve been paying on-time for the past five years from said bank account, you can add it to your credit history.
The same goes for a cell phone bill or another monthly utility that youve paid on-time for years.
Instead of credit bureaus only counting things like your credit card payments, auto loans/leases, and mortgages, they can include items that often dont make the cut.
What Is The Minimum Credit Score For A Mortgage
Below 625. If your score falls below 625, you might not have a high enough credit score to qualify for a home loan. Most people with a credit rating of less than 625 would likely need to look for an unsecured loan from a second tier lender.
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Can I Get A Mortgage With A Low Credit Score
It can be reassuring to know that having a low credit score doesnt rule out the possibility of a mortgage, especially if you have the help of a mortgage broker as they can quickly show you where the lenders are that may be able to offer you the finance you need.
Some lenders may even take the reason behind the bad credit into account, as well as the severity of the problem and if its been resolved.
In short – even with severe and recent issues on your report that have resulted in a low credit score, it may still be possible to obtain a mortgage. Ask a broker to check your credit score and source a choice of relevant lenders.
