A Kentucky Mortgage Loan Officer that has closed over 600 home loans specializing in Kentucky First Time Homebuyer Loans to include the following FHA, VA, USDA, Rural Housing, Down Payment Assistance Loan from Kentucky Housing Corp or KHC and the Fannie Mae Home Path HUD $100 Down Mortgage Program in Kentucky. Call/Text 502-905-3708 with your mortgage questions or email kentuckyloan@gmail.com I try to respond to all requests within minutes during regular business hours. NMLS# 57916 Joel Lobb Loan Originator, American Mortgage Solutions NMLS ID. 1364 Equal Housing Lender
What credit score do you need for a mortgage in Kentucky for FHA, VA, USDA and Fannie Mae Home Loans?
There’s no universal minimum credit score needed for a mortgage, but a better credit score will give you more options.
If you’re trying to get a mortgage, your credit score matters. Mortgage lenders use credit scores — as well as other information — to assess your likelihood of repaying a loan on time.
Because credit scores are so important, lenders set minimum scores you must have in order to qualify for a mortgage with them. Minimum credit score varies by lender and mortgage type, but generally, a higher score means better loan terms for you.
Let’s look at which loan types are best for different credit scores.
Credit score needed to buy a house
Mortgage lending is risky, and lenders want a way to quantify that risk. They use your three-digit credit score to gauge the risk of loaning you money since your credit score helps predict your likelihood of paying back a loan on time. Lenders also consider other data, such as your income, employment, debts and assets to decide whether to offer you a loan.
Different lenders and loan types have different borrower requirements, loan terms and minimum credit scores. Here are the requirements for some of the most common types of mortgages.
Conventional loan
Minimum credit score: 620
A conventional loan is a mortgage that isn’t backed by a federal agency. Most mortgage lenders offer conventional loans, and many lenders sell these loans to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac — two government-sponsored enterprises. Conventional loans can have either fixed or adjustable rates, and terms ranging from 10 to 30 years.
You can get a conventional loan with a down payment as low as 3% of the home’s purchase price, so this type of loan makes sense if you don’t have enough for a traditional down payment. However, if your down payment is less than 20%, you’re required to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI), which is an insurance policy designed to protect the lender if you stop making payments. You can ask your servicer to cancel PMI once the principal balance of your mortgage falls below 80% of the original value of your home.
FHA loan
Minimum credit score (10% down): 500
Minimum credit score (3.5% down): 580
FHA loans are backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The FHA incentivizes lenders to make mortgage loans available to borrowers who might not otherwise qualify by guaranteeing the federal government will repay the mortgage if the borrower stops making payments. This makes an FHA loan a good option if you have a lower credit score.
FHA loans come in 15- or 30-year terms with fixed interest rates. Unlike conventional mortgages, which only require PMI for borrowers with less than 20% down, all FHA borrowers must pay an up-front mortgage insurance premium (MIP) and an annual MIP, as long as the loan is outstanding.
VA loan
Minimum credit score: N/A
VA loans are mortgages backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA guarantees loans made by VA-approved lenders to qualifying veterans or service members of the U.S. armed forces, or their spouses. This type of loan is a great option for veterans and their spouses, especially if they don’t have the best credit and don’t have enough for a down payment.
VA loans are fixed-rate mortgages with 10-, 15-, 20- or 30-year terms.
Most VA loans don’t require a down payment or monthly mortgage insurance premiums. However, they do require a one-time VA funding fee, that ranges from 1.4% to 3.6% of the loan amount.
USDA loan
Minimum credit score: N/A
The U.S. Department of Agriculture guarantees loans for borrowers interested in buying homes in certain rural areas. USDA loans don’t require a minimum down payment, but you have to meet the USDA’s income eligibility limits, which vary by location.
All USDA mortgages have fixed interest rates and 30-year repayment terms.
USDA-approved lenders must pay an up-front guarantee fee of up to 3.5% of the purchase price to the USDA. That fee can be passed on to borrowers and financed into the home loan. If the home you want to buy is within an eligible rural area (defined by the USDA) and you meet the other requirements, this could be a great loan option for you.
What else do mortgage lenders consider?
Your credit score isn’t the only factor lenders consider when reviewing your loan application. Here are some of the other factors lenders use when deciding whether to give you a mortgage.
Debt-to-income ratio — Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is the amount of debt payments you make each month (including your mortgage payments) relative to your gross monthly income. For example, if your mortgage payments, car loan and credit card payments add up to $1,800 per month and you have a $6,000 monthly income, your debt-to-income ratio would be $1,800/$6,000, or 30%. Most conventional mortgages require a DTI ratio no greater than 36%. However, you may be approved with a DTI up to 45% if you meet other requirements.
Employment history — When you apply for a mortgage, lenders will ask for proof of employment — typically two years’ worth of W-2s and tax returns, as well as your two most recent pay stubs. Lenders prefer to work with people who have stable employment and consistent income.
Down payment — Putting money down to buy a home gives you immediate equity in the home and helps to ensure the lender recoups their loss if you stop making payments and they need to foreclose on the home. Most loans — other than VA and USDA loans — require a down payment of at least 3%, although a higher down payment could help you qualify for a lower interest rate or make up for other less-than-ideal aspects of your mortgage application.
The home’s value and condition — Lenders want to ensure the home collateralizing the loan is in good condition and worth what you’re paying for it. Typically, they’ll require an appraisal to determine the home’s value and may also require a home inspection to ensure there aren’t any unknown issues with the property.
How is your credit score calculated?
Most talk of credit scores makes it sound as if you have only one score. In fact, you have several credit scores, and they may be used by different lenders and for different purposes.
The three national credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — collect information from banks, credit unions, lenders and public records to formulate your credit score. The most common and well-known scoring model is the FICO Score, which is based on the following five factors:
Payment history (35%) — A history of late payments will drag your score down, as will negative information from bankruptcies, foreclosures, repossessions or accounts referred to collections.
How much you owe (30%) — Your credit utilization ratio is the amount of revolving credit you’re using compared to your total available credit. For example, if you have one credit card with a $2,000 balance and a $4,000 credit limit, your credit utilization ratio is 50%. Credit scoring models view using a larger percentage of your available credit as risky behavior, so high balances and maxed-out credit cards will negatively impact your score.
Length of credit history (15%) — This factor considers the age of your oldest account, newest account and the average age of all your credit accounts. In general, the longer you’ve been using credit responsibly, the higher your score will be.
Types of accounts (10%) — Credit scoring models favor people who use a mix of credit cards, installment loans, mortgages and other types of credit.
Recent credit history (10%) — Lenders view applying for and opening several new credit accounts within a short period as a sign of financial trouble and it’ll negatively impact your score.
Ready to shop around for a mortgage?
Joel Lobb
Mortgage Loan Officer Individual NMLS ID #57916
American Mortgage Solutions, Inc. 10602 Timberwood Circle Louisville, KY 40223 Company NMLS ID #1364
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Credit Score Requirements for FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional Loans in Kentucky
Below I have spelled out some info that will help you out when you look at your credit scores and what affects them and what you can do to help your credit scores in order to prepare for a mortgage loan approval when it comes to your credit scores.
Opting out will help a credit score. No it won’t. The bureaus don’t know if someone has opted out or not and it’s not factored into the credit scores. If someone’s score improves after they have opted out it’s because something else has changed on the report but not because they opted out.
Paying off old delinquencies will remove them from your credit report. No a collection account or an account with late payments will stay on a credit report for 7 years. That being said, the credit bureaus will occasionally go in and remove old collections that have not reported for a while. But that’s at their discretion. Just because you paid if off doesn’t mean it will be removed. Also paying off an older collection with then brings the reporting date current which could actually hurt the credit scores.
Opening new accounts will help your credit score. This will help only if the borrower has no established credit yet. Once you have several accounts, opening new ones will actually have a negative affect on a credit score until substantial history is accumulated on the account.
Paying off all your revolving balances is a good thing! Actually no it’s not. The credit bureaus models like to see at least one revolving balance, even if it’s small. Having no revolving balances can actually have a negative impact on a credit score. So always keeping one account with a small balance is a very good idea.
Your credit is affected by how much money you have in your savings or checking accounts. Neither of these are factored into a credit score.
Closing old accounts will help a credit score. The credit scoring models like to see several open accounts that have zero balances and are not used often. When an account is closed you lose that history. If it’s an account you’ve had for a long time and has no late payments, closing it can actual hurt the credit score. Having several open accounts, even if they are not used much, makes it look like a person has good financial responsibility.
When I check my own credit score it’s the same one used by lenders. Unfortunately no it’s not. A person actually has 69+ different credit scores. The ones that lenders use are completely different than what a borrower sees when they get their own scores. Those are personal scores and are not used by any industry for any reason.
Checking my own credit report will hurt my score. When a consumer checks their own credit report it’s a “soft” inquiry and will not impact the scores. Only “hard” inquiries done by creditors when a consumer applies for a loan or credit card will possibly have a negative affect on a credit score.
It’s possible to avoid paying for your credit score or at least an estimate. Here is a list of all of the well-known ways to get a FICO score or score estimate for free:
If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation, or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for a loan, please contact us at 502-905-3708.
Disclaimer: No statement on this site is a commitment to make a loan. Loans are subject to borrower qualifications, including income, property evaluation, sufficient equity in the home to meet Loan-to-Value requirements, and final credit approval. Approvals are subject to underwriting guidelines, interest rates, and program guidelines and are subject to change without notice based on applicant’s eligibility and market conditions. Refinancing an existing loan may result in total finance charges being higher over the life of a loan. Reduction in payments may reflect a longer loan term. Terms of any loan may be subject to payment of points and fees by the applicant Equal Opportunity Lender. NMLS#57916http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/
— Some products and services may not be available in all states. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. The content in this marketing advertisement has not been approved, reviewed, sponsored or endorsed by any department or government agency. Rates are subject to change and are subject to borrower(s) qualification.
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Score Requirement on Kentucky FHA Loans for people with bad credit Lowers Minimum Credit Score Requirement on Kentucky FHA Loans
Kentucky FHA Home loan programs for people with bad credit
FHA loans are designed to make housing more affordable with lower down payment requirements than conventional loans on purchases and less home equity requirements on refinances. Less stringent qualification guidelines and the security of a government-insured loan makes FHA a popular choice for consumers.
Kentucky FHA Loans with 580 Credit scores and – Low Down Payment – 3.5% which can be gifted from relatives or borrowed off one’s retirement account. If your scores is between 500-579, 10% down needed for home loan and subject to underwriting approval.
Which Credit Score is used for a Kentucky Mortgage Loan Approval? Credit score used for a Kentucky Mortgage Loan Approval for FHA, VA, USDA Rural Housing, KHC Down payment assistance FAnnie MaeFICO Scores used for mortgages
Starting in July, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion will delay medical debt credit reporting for one year and limit the reported balance to $500 and above
The three nationwide credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, announced that effective July 1, 2022, they will no longer include medical debt that was paid after it was sent to collections on consumer credit reports.
The companies’ CEOs provided a joint statement on the decision to change their approach to medical collection debt reporting:
“Medical collection debt often arises from unforeseen medical circumstances. These changes are another step we’re taking together to help people across the United States focus on their financial and personal wellbeing,” said Mark W. Begor, CEO Equifax; Brian Cassin, CEO Experian; and Chris Cartwright, CEO TransUnion. “As an industry we remain committed to helping drive fair and affordable access to credit for all consumers.”
The time period before unpaid medical collection debt would appear on a consumer’s report will be increased from 6 months to one year, according to a press release, “giving consumers more time to work with insurance and/or healthcare providers to address their debt before it is reported on their credit file.”
In the first half of 2023, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion will also no longer include medical collection debt under at least $500 on credit reports.
The changes will remove nearly 70% of medical debt in collections accounts from consumer credit reports.
If you are looking to refinance your mortgage loan, you’ll want to be prepared to meet your lender’s criteria and educate yourself about your FICO® Scores as they are the credit scores most commonly used in the mortgage refinancing process.
As there are different versions of the FICO Score, it’s important that you focus on the FICO Score versions used in mortgage lending. It’s highly likely that the following FICO Score versions will be pulled on all mortgage loan applicants and from all three credit bureaus:
FICO Score 5 based on Equifax data
FICO Score 2 based on Experian data
FICO Score 4 based on TransUnion data
You can access the scores along with the top reasons why the scores are not higher at myFICO. Focusing your credit actions on these top reasons could help you to understand your scores and gain access to more attractive rates.
You can now focus on those mortgage-related versions in your FICO Score explanation report with confidence knowing they are the same versions your mortgage lender will likely access in the refinance loan review process.
1. Based on $300,000 mortgage loan with fixed interest rate of 4.5% and 30-yr term
Fannie Mae loan requirements Kentucky
Credit Scores Required for a Mortgage Loan Approval in Kentucky. Credit Scores Required for a Mortgage Loan Approval in Kentucky. Kentucky Mortgage Requirements for FHA, VA, USDA and Fannie Mae pic.twitter.com/miEMCXQWyb
If you are looking to refinance your mortgage loan, you’ll want to be prepared to meet your lender’s criteria and educate yourself about your FICO® Scores as they are the credit scores most commonly used in the mortgage refinancing process.
As there are different versions of the FICO Score, it’s important that you focus on the FICO Score versions used in mortgage lending. It’s highly likely that the following FICO Score versions will be pulled on all mortgage loan applicants and from all three credit bureaus:
FICO Score 5 based on Equifax data
FICO Score 2 based on Experian data
FICO Score 4 based on TransUnion data You can access the scores along with the top reasons why the scores are not higher at myFICO. Focusing your credit actions on these top reasons could help you…
Kentucky First-Time Homebuyer Loan Programs for FHA, VA, KHC and USDA Mortgage Loans in Kentucky 