As mortgage professionals, we feel it is of the utmost importance to inform our customers as to the significance of their credit standing and how it affects their capacity to obtain a mortgage and, even worst, affects the cost of borrowing, especially in these uncertain economic times. Making some of the following mistakes can ensure that lenders will put on a hazmat suit to handle your credit report.


Remember the good old days, way back in 2007, when the streets were paved with Credit-Gold as far as the eye could see and credit cards rained from the sky? Even the creditdestitute were treated like kings by credit card companies and courted with lavish offers of unlimited credit.

Here, in the future, the world has changed. And woe betides those who ask for loans with glaring blemishes on their credit reports. An unpaid collection is apt to be regarded like a cockroach in the consommé.

What affects your credit score and in what proportion?

The Seven Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Close credit card accounts
2. Let credit cards collect dust
3. Run up high balances
4. Apply for new credit repeatedly
5. Don’t pay fine on non-credit-card bills
6. Ignore mistakes on your credit report
7. Make late payments or skip them all together

SO, WHAT TO DO?

1. Close credit card accounts

If you intend to close some credit card accounts, remember that only recently opened accounts should be considered for closing. Length of credit history is an important component of the credit score; therefore, it’s not a good idea to cancel a source that has been long-held since payment history can have positive implications for your credit rating.

2. Do not let credit cards collect dust

It is suggested that people use their cards periodically. Burying cards in the backyard or hoarding them in a shoebox in case of an emergency may also backfire. Consumers encounter two pitfalls if a creditor closes an account for non-use: The available credit is pared down and that account no longer contributes to their credit history.

3. Run up high balances

If using too little credit sends up red flags to lenders, using Loading up on high-interest credit cards isn’t a good idea even if the reward programs are attractive. Lenders want to see people use credit just right -- not too much, not too little.

It can be damaging to cardholders who run up a high balance every month on one card and then pay it off each month. Scoring systems do not take those payments into account. Restrict the amount and sources of your credit. Remember, credit is about a convenient payment method, so make sure it fits your needs. It should never be used as money you don’t have.

5. Don't pay fines on non-credit-card bills

Other business relationships that don't normally report your good payments can turn around and bite you if you decide not to pay as agreed. A lot of service providers don't report positive information. But the minute you do something wrong, they can outsource that debt to a collection agency who will report it.

Even if you never go over the limit on your credit card, being one day late on a bill can affect your credit rating. By the way, experts recommend not spending more than 35 per cent of your allowable credit limit.

6. Ignore mistakes on your report

Say what you will about credit bureaus, they do make it easy to dispute inaccuracies on your credit report. In order to dispute something on a credit report, one must, of course,check one's credit report. It's easier than it's ever been as consumers have unfettered access to their own credit information.

Unlike other issues that affect credit scores, mistakes sometimes can be remedied easily and quickly, so it's worthwhile to keep tabs on your report. By law, credit reporting agencies must provide your Consumer Disclosure report, which differs from the credit report lenders use, if ordered via mail or fax.

7. Make late payments or skip them entirely

It seems almost too obvious, but it bears stating that paying late and missing payments altogether are stellar ways to ensure that your credit score will scrape the bottom of the barrel.

If you experience cash flow problems or a downfall in your family economic situation for some time, don’t hide, it’s the worst thing you can do. Instead, call organizations that have loaned you money. Explain the situation and tell them you want to work out a repayment plan. Remember, always pay something.

The further back in time the mistakes are, the less impact they have on your credit score. Obviously, the fewer mistakes consumers make the better for their score.

We hope this information will prove helpful; should you have any further
questions, do not hesitate to call your Mortgage Specialist; he will be happy to
help you. And remember, you always play safer when you build savings; this is,
without a doubt, the best way to have a good night’s sleep.

A flexible mortgage is a concept which made its way to the mortgage sector in 1995. Prior to that, the concept was quite popular in Australian mortgage market and is also referred to as the Australian Mortgage. Since the induction, a flexible mortgage as a notion has received a probing reaction, with no definite patronage. But despite this, the schema didn't fade; rather it prevailed and established its roots deep into the mortgage market. This mortgage performance can be better understood, in consonance with the montreal mortgage terms.

Flexible mortgages Montreal refer to mortgage deals wherein, the homebuyer has considerable advanced flexibility to repay. In this package, there are no fixed interest charges and also there is the added advantage to underpay, overpay or enjoy longish payment breaks. These leisurely features, when compared with the fixed mortgage plan, may seem like the ideal mortgage account, but a cautious approach is needed because of two key negative aspects. The first negative aspect is that the flexibility comes with a high fee schedule, especially with the case of regular underpayments and payment breaks. The second negative aspect is the definite requirement of excellent financial control for this mortgage account to efficiently work.

Therefore, if you are trying to compare flexible mortgages montreal, first be clearly aware of the above mentioned clauses. In case there are any doubts on either of the two, it is suggested that the comparison be broadened to include all fixed mortgage offers, because the latter would offer stability in an easy to follow pattern.

The Requirement Set

If you are definitely clear about the suitability of a flexible mortgage with reference to your personal circumstances, then the compare flexible mortgages exercise should begin with the creation of an input catalogue, listing such items as the loan to value figure.

The task commences with evaluation of the property. The calculated property value will help derive the loan to value figure, without which the comparison is not possible. As evident the ratio also requires another figure i.e. the loan, which corresponds to the second item in the list. After these two values, the next calculation should be with respect to earnings and conception of a personal circumstantial chart. This chart should clarify the best possible definition of your perceived requirements during the mortgage period, thus helping you work out the final mortgage cost, taking into account needed underpayments, overpayments or payment holidays. Another important entry to the list, while you compare flexible mortgages, relates to the applicable interest type. The interest rate could be flexible, fixed, capped, varied or Bank of Canada rate based. And then there are specific deal terms, for instance a few mortgages could allow cash back and more.

With this list ready you could either feed the data into an online calculator /comparison chart, or refer to a professional broker. The latter is advised, as a mortgage is a very important concept, with serious bearing on the overall lifestyle, thus demanding thorough scrutiny. Moreover, the professional broker would take into account all relevant personal factors before they would compare flexible montreal mortgages with you.

Many people are starting to ask why they are unable to obtain a mortgage; it is not just those who have an adverse credit history who are being affected. So why are mortgage lenders so unwilling will to let people borrow their money?

Well it is all down to the now infamous credit crunch. These lenders are finding it extremely hard to borrow money themselves or at least at a worthwhile interest rate. Despite the governments of the Canada and USA slashing interest rates the market is showing no signs of picking up. It is as if there is some kind of stalemate taking place. Many of the mortgage lenders have been reluctant to pass on these interest rate reductions with the majority of them even increasing the interest rates on their fixed rate mortgages.

For the average man in the street this seems rather unfair. How often does a lender keep their rates unchanged when the Bank of Canada increases interest rates? Never is the answer, they are very efficient at increasing their rates. In my opinion there should be a rule which states that they have to pass the interest rate reductions on to their customers.

Governments around the world are trying to find a solution to this stalemate; they need to find a way to get the whole lending business moving again. For now people will just have to make do with that they can get, hardly an ideal situation, but that's just the way it is.

Financial experts are saying that there is a house price crisis, with prices likely to fall in a major way over the next couple of years. I personally believe that the fundamentals are fine but that the credit crunch and the affect that it is having is making it virtually impossible to buy and sell houses. There is likely to be some more bad news to come but within a couple of years the housing market will start to boom as people start to be able to borrow money again.