How Your FICO Score Is Determined

 

Your FICO Score

Named for the San Rafael-based Fair, Isaac and Co., a FICO is a numerical score of credit-worthiness assigned to anyone who has applied for consumer credit.

FICO scores had little to do with mortgage lending. Underwriters made decisions based on payment history and income-to-debt ratios. But they began to look at the relationship between credit scores and mortgage delinquencies. People with low FICO scores defaulted on loans with far greater frequency than did their higher scoring peers.

Your FICO scores may differ slightly between the three national credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. In general, however, each agency uses the following issues to determine your score.

1. Delinquencies. A 30-day late payment is not as risky as a 90-day late payment. Still, it’s best to avoid either.

2. New credit. Creditors expect you to open accounts in order to establish credit, but you run the risk of reducing your score by opening several credit accounts in a short period of time. It suggests you are overextended and may not be able to meet new credit obligations.

3. Short credit history. A longer credit history is more impressive than a newly established one.

4. Balances on revolving accounts near maximum limits. A consumer close to “maxing out” cards may have trouble making payments in the future.

5. Public records (tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies). These all jeopardize a healthy FICO score.

6. Consumer credit agencies. Although they offer consumers lower interest rates and credit counseling, the use of credit counseling services negatively affects FICO scores.

7. No recent credit card balances. Having a very small balance without late payments can improve your FICO, showing that you manage credit responsibly.

8. Too few revolving accounts. If you fail to use credit, there is no way to evaluate your ability to manage it.

9. Too many revolving accounts. Multiple revolving accounts suggest a high risk of over-extension.

Credit scores can affect your interest rate. Some lenders establish lower interest for high FICO scores and higher interest for low scores. Some will not loan at all to people with low FICOs. And other lenders specialize in finding loans for the FICO-score challenged. If you have less than perfect credit, keep looking until you find a lender who will work with you.

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Healthy Holiday Eating

Healthy Holiday Eating

Is there such a thing as "Healthy Holiday Eating"? We just had and still have left over candy and chocolate bars from Halloween. Now here comes Thanksgiving and next thing you know, Christmas! Due to pandemic, it will be difficult to have normal family get together, but I hope you can still cook and eat holiday meal with your families.

Here are some tips for Healthy Holiday Eating;

- Don’t try to diet. Your goal should be to maintain your current weight, not reduce it.

- Plan and assemble several quick, healthy meals and have them readily available for reheating to avoid relying on high-fat fast food when your days become chaotic.

- Instead of cutting out high-calorie favorite holiday dishes, take a small portion of each and load up on healthier options like vegetables, fruits and breads.

- Don’t attend a cocktail party on an empty stomach. The effects of alcohol are felt much more quickly and can lead to overeating and overdrinking. If you do drink alcohol, try to drink one glass of water before each glass of an alcoholic beverage.

- Center activity around non-food events such as ice skating, tubing, skiing, renting a holiday movie, serving in your local homeless shelter, or singing carols.

- Offer to bring a favorite low-calorie dish to holiday parties, so you know there will be at least one "safe" item available. Arrive fashionably late and stand far away from buffets so you're not tempted to nibble constantly.

- Continue your regular exercise program right through the holidays. It's the key to maintaining good health and alleviating holiday stress.

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Home Inspections

 

Home Inspections

A home inspection is a visual exam of the structure and systems of a house. It details problems with the property and if they’re serious enough to prevent a sale. The three main points of an inspection are physical condition, items in need of repair or replacement, and the remaining useful life of major systems.

A report won’t cover defects that are not visible, inoperable systems (e.g., A/C during the winter), or code violations.

It’s a good idea to be present during the inspection: you can ask the inspector questions, and the inspector can point out areas of potential trouble and may offer maintenance tips.

Expect an inspection to take 2-5 hours (old homes may take longer), and expect charges of $200-$500 depending on size.

The seller is not required to make repairs, but the buyer can use the report in negotiating (e.g., if a repair is made, the buyer will offer to pay more, otherwise the buyer will bid lower).

To hire an inspector, get recommendations from your Realtor or from others who have used them, or check the phone book under “Home Inspection.” Be sure to ask about references, memberships in professional associations, professional training, and experience.

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How To Decorate Your Home With Plants

 

Using plants as décor is a great way to add a little color and a natural, bright feel to any room. There are endless types of plants to choose from and various ways to display each one, but here are a few of our favorite combinations.

Geometric pots. Find geometric pots or planters of various sizes and plant small succulents of different styles and colors in each one. Then group a few pots together on a window sill or shelf or use them individually to adorn a side table or center of the dining room table.

Long, hanging plants. Purchase a larger, draping plant-like eucalyptus, fern, or ivy and hang it from the ceiling using a macramé plant hanger or place it on a high shelf or ladder. These plants are perfect for the corner of your living room or room with a large, plain wall that is in need of a little pop of color.

Plant corner. Have a large corner in the dining or living room and need ideas on how to fill it? Consider turning it into a small plant sanctuary. Select plants of all different sizes, heights, colors, and styles and purchase either matching pots or a mix of designs. Consider the use of a stool or small table to create additional levels and strategically place each one in the corner.

Air plants. Air plants are universal and can be included in DIY wall art, hung from the ceiling or on the wall inside geometric metal prisms, or placed inside beautiful glass terrariums alongside other plants and colorful rocks or sand.

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Have an Evacuation Plan For Your Pets

 

An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility. Many homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and practice them with their kids, but far fewer have considered one for their pets. Take these steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan.

Assign pet evacuation to an adult. Everyone should know how to act during an evacuation, and that includes assigning one parent or adult to the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part of the evacuation plan, so there’s no confusion during a high-stress moment when time is of the essence.

Keep evacuation maps and pet carriers readily accessible. If you need to evacuate, you should know exactly where every important item is. If you pets require carriers, keep them in a place that you can access easily.

Practice your plan. Include your pets in your home evacuation drills. It’ll help you see how they will respond and make changes to your plan if necessary. Getting your dog out of a window may not be as simple as you think!

Be prepared in case you get separated from your pets. No matter how much you drill your evacuation plan, it’s possible that a dog or cat will run off while you’re focusing on keeping your family safe. A microchip or a GPS-compatible tag can help you find your pets once it’s safe to return to the area.

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4816 Integrity Street North Las Vegas, NV 89031

Property Site: https://tour.corelistingmachine.com/home/BJZRNW/4816-Integrity-Street-North-Las-Vegas-NV-2242012

Beautiful two Story Home in Gated Community with community pool across the street. Two car attached garage/three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs/upstairs laundry/one half bath downstairs/large living room/open kitchen. This home is located between the 15 and 95 off of W Lone Mountain Rd. Near parks, restaurants, and shopping!

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3

Square feet: 1,273

Price: $216,880

For more information about this property, please contact Yoko Schlueter at or yokorealestate@gmail.com. You can also text 6540503 to 67299 (Message and Data Rates May Apply, see terms and privacy policy).

See more listings at: https://yoko-schlueter.lvmillennium.com

MLS ID: 2242012

When To Refinance

 

When To Refinance

Refinancing your mortgage is something most homeowners consider at least once throughout the lifespan of their home loan especially when the interest rate is all time low like right now. It allows you to pay off your previous loan by applying for a new one that has better financial advantages. While there are many good reasons to refinance, here are five common ones.

- Scoring a lower interest rate. The number one reason homeowners decide to refinance is to secure a lower interest rate on their mortgage. Not only does this save you money in the long run and decrease your monthly payment, but you can start building equity in your home sooner.

- Using an improved credit score. Even if interest rates have not dropped in the market, if you’ve improved your credit score over the last few years, you may be able to reduce your mortgage rate.

- Shortening the loan’s term. If interest rates are decreasing, there is a chance you may be able to get a shorter loan term with little to no change in your monthly payment, allowing you to pay off your loan sooner.

- Switching from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate. If you chose an adjustable-rate mortgage with great introductory rates when you initially financed your home, that rate may increase significantly over the years. By switching to a fixed rate while interest rates are low, you can protect yourself from future increases.

- Cashing out home equity. If there is a big purchase or payment on the horizon, such as funding a wedding or going back to school, your best option may be to use the equity you’ve built in your home to borrow money at a lower cost.

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