Credit

Broker, bank, or 1-800 lender? An honest look at how each one writes mortgages, when each one wins, and the questions to ask before you commit.

VantageScore 4.0 is now approved for Fannie, Freddie and FHA loans, but Classic FICO on a tri-merge is still standard at most 2026 closings. Here's what actually changed.

Eleven of the most common mortgage credit myths, each corrected with a primary-source truth from CFPB, FICO, HUD, and the Fannie Mae Selling Guide.

Are credit repair companies worth it before a mortgage? By law they can't do anything you can't do free yourself. Here's what works on a loan timeline instead.

The credit dos and don'ts between mortgage application and closing. Protect your loan during the quiet period: keep balances low, pay on time, don't open new credit.

A security freeze blocks your mortgage credit pull at that bureau, so you must thaw all three before a tri-merge. Fraud alerts don't block a pull. How and when to lift.

Buying a house after divorce means untangling joint credit first. How a decree, DTI exclusions, alimony, and refinancing affect your mortgage. General, confirm current.

Student loans affect your mortgage mainly through DTI, and each loan program counts a deferred or $0 payment differently. Here is the current rule for Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA, verified against the agency guides.

A self-employed mortgage is underwritten on your personal credit, not your business score. Here is how business debt affects DTI and how to exclude it.

Paying off a car before a mortgage can raise your buying power or waste your down payment. See how DTI, credit score, and cash reserves really interact.