What You Need To Know About FHA Loans And Preapproval

Thinking about buying a home? One of the first things you'll want to consider doing is filling out forms to be pre-approved for your FHA mortgage. This means a lender looks at your finances to determine how much they will loan you and how much interest to charge.

Preapproval for a home loan means a credit check, so be prepared to fill out basic credit information as part of the process.

Some at this stage might wonder: "Will applying for pre-approval hurt my credit score?"

What's a FICO Score and Why Should I Care?

Your FICO score is a three-digit number that sums up your risk as a borrower. It's based on your credit history, and FHA lenders use this score to decide if they want to give you a loan and what interest rate they'll charge. The higher your score (the best is 850), the better your chances of getting a good deal.

Good News About Pre-Approval

Applying for pre-approval typically results in a temporary change to your FICO score. Why? Because lenders perform a "soft inquiry" on your credit. It's like a quick background check, not a full-blown credit application. They can look at your credit history, but it doesn't affect your score.

Shop Around For An FHA Lender Without Worry

You know how you compare prices before you buy something big? Well, FICO knows you do that with mortgages, too. They have a "rate shopping window," usually 45 days long, and during this time, you can apply with multiple FHA lenders, which only counts as one inquiry on your credit report.

Things That Can Affect Your Score

If you apply with FHA lenders over a long period (past the 45-day window), it can look like you're desperate for credit.

Also, make sure your credit report is accurate. Credit report mistakes are more common than you might think. They can lower your score, so check your credit before you apply and fix any errors.

Keep Your FICO Scores Safe

Want to minimize any impact on your credit score? Here's one plan to consider:

• Apply within the 45-day window: Get those pre-approvals done quickly to take advantage of the rate shopping feature.
• Don't go overboard: It's good to compare offers, but don't apply with every lender under the sun. Pick a few that seem like a good fit.
• Check your credit report: Before applying, get a copy of your credit report and make sure everything is correct.

Pre-Approval is Just the Beginning

Keep in mind that pre-approval doesn't guarantee you'll get the loan. It's a good estimate, but the lender will examine your finances more thoroughly before they give you final approval.

Getting pre-approved is a smart step when you're buying a home. Be smart about how you apply, and keep your credit report clean.