Did you know that your credit score can mean the difference between an affordable mortgage rate and an astronomical one? This three-digit number can unlock endless possibilities for your financial future, but only if you know how to properly maintain it. The first step? Knowing how to check your credit rating. Continue reading
Category Archives: Credit Rating
How to Avoid Major Home Buying Errors
Housing affordability continues to remain stable across Canada, creating the perfect environment for savvy home hunters. With more houses available on the market, buyers are becoming much more competitive, rushing to complete their purchase agreements. Situations like this often lead to costly buyer errors, as anxious home hunters make hasty, uninformed choices. These mistakes are sometimes impossible to reverse, so be careful. Continue reading
Outlook Shaky As Consumer Debt Expected to Rise
While the Canadian economy appears to be weathering the economic storm with surprising ease, Canadian consumers are beginning to show signs of distress. Just last week, Statistics Canada announced a net worth drop of $4,600 per household in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Canadians continue to borrow and buy on credit. Household debt per capita is up by $600 from the second quarter for a total of nearly $46,100 or 152.98%.
To put this into perspective, the American banks encountered trouble when the ratio of debt to disposable income hit 160%. Canadians are flirting with disaster if indebtedness levels continue to rise. Continue reading
How to Make Wealth-Building Real Estate Decisions
It’s a sad but stark reality: when buying real estate, far too many Canadians fail to take the basic precautions or perform standard due diligence prior to submitting an offer. Instead of running the numbers, comparing mortgage rates, and consulting with a professional mortgage broker, home hunters are simply throwing caution to the wind and diving into the housing market head first. This approach is crazy – real estate is typically the largest and riskiest asset someone could ever buy. The housing crisis of the past few years has certainly showed us how problematic and unpredictable investing in real estate can be. Continue reading
Establishing Credit History
When you pay your charge card, electricity or even water bills, you’re establishing your credit track record and developing a good credit ranking. Having a good credit score will show banks, loan providers, as well as mortgage businesses that you are financially sensible as well as able to make normal repayments. In the end exactly what this achieves, is it allows you to obtain a mortgage to purchase a home.
However, in the event you miss obligations on your payments, or pay them late, you might have established a poor credit rating, or are on your path to one. Whether it is outstanding financial debt, the credit you utilize in comparison to what’s accessible, payment background, or derogatory credit score details, several elements play a role in your overall credit rating.
As you look to develop your credit score, whether you’re a first-time , new immigrant to Canada, or just someone who is looking to get back on target financially, here are some tips to get started on establishing a credit standing:
• Have a checking account in your name: Regardless of whether you open your own checking or individual savings account, merely doing deposits, withdrawals, and transfers from that account established in your name will advise you can manage your finances conscientiously.
• Start with a smaller loan: Lots of people borrow to buy a car before they will ever purchase a residence. Showing you can regularly make repayments promptly for a smaller financial loan, demonstrates you will have a similar ability for a larger financial loan.
• Credit is your friend: With regards to establishing a credit rating, one method to successfully do that is usually to have other types of credit such as credit cards. Begin with gas station or department store charge cards, that are easier to obtain than the usual major charge card, make steady installments, and watch your credit score develop.
• Good credit rating will take time: Developing a solid credit record and credit history will take time and responsibility. Select a couple of things you know you can handle financially; stay on track with all your payments, and show mortgage businesses and lenders that you have evidence of your financial consistency.
Know Your Credit Ranking
Beyond just practicing these items for your credit ratings and also to establish your credit track record, you should always bear in mind specifically of what your credit rating score is. Equifax Canada as well as TransUnion are two major Canadian credit rating companies that can provide, for a small fee, a copy of your credit history and credit score.