why are credit scores and mortgage qualifications calculated the way they are?

My wife and I are trying to buy our first home and the mortgage brokers we've talked to have not been able to provide satisfactory answers for the following questions: - How is it that our credit scores are below average? We consistently pay our bills on time and have low debt. Is the average American really doing better than us? - Why don't mortgage approval departments give more weight to rent payment history? We're unable to qualify for a home with total payments (PITI) roughly equal to our current rent payment, which we have paid on time for the past three years. Our credit scores are low due to a couple of small (<$100) collection items on accounts we thought were in good standing, which we promptly paid when notified. Why do these outweigh the seemingly more relevant rent history? - Why do mortgage banks try to minimize foreclosures? Since they retain ownership after a foreclosure, how do foreclosures hurt their bottom line?

Public Comments

1. You are right and there is a more fair system that is being developed and will come out next year. Many lenders give much less weight to medical bills in collections because everyone has them. If your credit score is 500 or better you can get financed though its a slightly lengthier process. i do not lend for a living but I will help you receive financing if you want to email me. When trying to purchase a foreclosure banks will normally come down a certain percentage each month the home is on the market. Most of the time you will need a "rehab" loan because most of them need maintenance.
2. You have some very valid questions, that to me any mortgage broker should be able to answer for you.. If they cant, THEY MUST NOT BE LICENSED!! a licensed mortgage loan officer would have to answer questions similar to therse in order to pass state licensing tests!! I will help you answer these questions... 1. Paying bills on time and having low debt are definitly good things for your credit.. When having collections though, it hurts you because it tells a lender that you didn't pay a debt you owed, and 'that' lender had to file a dispute to reclaim what was owed.. Unfortunately even if you promptly pay it back, the damage has already been done to your credit being that they had to file a dispute against you... The best i can suggest is dont get anymore collections (which you obviously realize) 2. As for rental payment history, unfortunately this is something that isn't even reported on your credit report..(unless you become delinquent and dont pay rent) The reason is because you are not borrowing any money at an interest rate... To gain or report credit on something you have to pay interest or be borrowing money of some kind.. I know it dosen't seem right, but unfortunately it is just the way lenders and credit bureau's are... 3. and finally, as for foreclosures.. These are minimized by all lenders for one simple reason..When a bank forecloses on a home, they 9 out of 10 times get UNDER 70% return on the value of the home.. Most of the time, they dont even get enough back from the sale of the house then what the borrower owes!!! On top of that they have to pay attorneys to file disputes, they have to pay a processing department to do the processing, and they basically spend a lot of time and money for nothing.. Banks aren't in the business of selling houses... THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF LENDING MONEY TO PEOPLE THAT WILL CONTINIOUSLY PAY PAYMENTS AND INTEREST ON TIME EVERY MONTH!! So obviously if they lose money, they want to minimize foreclosures as much as possible!! It sounds to me you are working with an inadequete mortgage company.. My name is Jason Fry, i am a licensed loan officer for Providential Bancorp (nationwide lender).. I work with a portfolio of investors that work with people from 500 credit scores and bankruptcy's, to people with 800 credit scores, and thousnads in savings. I would be happy to assist you in purchasing a home, and at LEAST be able to efficently answer any question you have about the mortgage industry.. Feel free to call or email me at any time... 312-264-6448, or jasonf@providential.com I wish you the best! Jason Fry Senior Mortgage Specialist Providential Bancorp 312-264-6448