March at a glance

Spring is on its way.

International Women’s Day This worldwide movement supports women’s rights and celebrates their contributions throughout history and in every corner of the globe.

Daylight Saving Begins Spring forward! The days begin to grow longer, and winter will soon be behind us.

St. Patrick’s Day Put on something green, whip up a dish of corned beef and cabbage, and get ready to dance a fine Irish jig!

First Day of Spring “Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.” — Lewis Grizzard

Credit Card Reduction Day Credit card debt weighing you down? Check out these useful tips to help get credit card debt under control.

Passover Begins Say “Pesach Sameach” today to wish someone a happy Passover, one of the most significant Jewish holidays.

When you apply for a mortgage, your credit score is one of the factors a lender looks at to help determine your creditworthiness, or ability to pay back a loan. Here are five things you should know about credit and how it relates to obtaining a home mortgage.

The higher your creditworthiness, the lower your interest rate.* For most people and most loan programs, an excellent credit score can not only help you qualify for financing, but it may even get you more favorable terms on your home mortgage.

Mortgage rates are so low right now that you might not need excellent credit to get a great interest rate. Even if you have a lower credit score or less cash for a down payment, you could still end up with lower monthly payments than you have now!

Different loan programs have different credit requirements. This means that if you do not qualify for one program, another may be available to you. As an example, while each lender can set their own credit score requirements, the minimum FICO for a conventional loan is generally 620, whereas the minimum FICO for an FHA loan is 500.

Improving your credit takes time and effort. There is no quick fix to boost your credit score. Pay down your debt, stick to your budget, and know what you’re aiming for so you can reach your goal before applying for a mortgage, thereby upping your chances of getting favorable terms.

Stop the big spending when getting a home loan. It is so tempting to run out and buy all new furniture and décor for your new house, but new charges on your credit cards or removing cash from your savings account could affect your loan approval. Along the same lines, don’t open a new credit card or apply for a new car loan until your mortgage is complete. If you have an emergency and you must spend a large amount of money, be sure you speak to your mortgage lender first to determine the impact it may have on your loan approval.

*Subject to certain conditions