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Bo Kuffmann

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5 Steps to Building Better Credit Before You Buy a House

credit to jc-pics photostream on flickr

by Calgary Mortgage Broker Tyler Tost

Building up a solid credit score is an important step to take before purchasing a home. After all, the better your credit, the more likely you are to get an attractive interest rate and better loan terms. Fortunately, there are several simple ways to build your credit and to put yourself in the best possible situation for the most attractive loan terms. Here is a look at just a few of the things you can do to build and to improve upon your credit.

Step #1: Check Your Credit Report

Perhaps the simplest step you can take to improve your credit is to simply check your credit report on a regular basis. By checking on your reports with both TransUnion and Equifax, you can be sure the information they contain is accurate and complete. If you discover any errors or if you find anything suspicious on your report, be sure to take the necessary steps to correct it.

Step #2: Open a Bank Account

Opening a bank account is another simple way to build credit. Of course, to enjoy the benefit of opening a bank account, you need to be sure to use it responsibly. Even if you haven’t managed to build a great credit score, the relationship you have built with the bank will go a long way toward helping you get a mortgage loan.

Step #3: Get a Credit Card

While credit cards have a bad reputation for causing people to go into debt, the reality is that credit cards can go a long way toward helping you build your credit. In fact, when used responsibly, a credit card can be a very handy tool. If you are scared your spending will get out of control, you might want to apply for a secured credit card rather than a traditional credit card. With a secured credit card, you load the card with money beforehand. Yet, because you are still responsible for paying the bill each month, you continue to build credit with a secured credit card.

Step #4: Avoid Taking Out Too Many Loans or Credit Cards at Once

Getting a credit card and using it responsibly is a great way to build credit. At the same time, don’t take it too far and open up multiple accounts or apply for several credit cards within a short period of time. If there are several inquiries into your credit report, it appears as if you are desperate to get money. As a result, your credit score will take a hit and lenders will consider you to be a higher risk.

Step #5: Keep Your Debt Low

Carrying too much credit card debt of having too many outstanding loans will also make it difficult for you to get a mortgage loan. Therefore, you should avoid accumulating too much debt. If you have a high debt-to-income ratio, you might want to consider paying off a few bills before you pursue obtaining a mortgage loan.

Tyler Tost Broker / Owner of Conexia Mortgage is a Calgary based Mortgage Brokerage with some of the best Calgary Mortgage Brokers in the business. Conexia Mortgage works with numerous lenders to enable clients to have a choice of lenders and best mortgage rates available and can prepare financing across Canada. Visit our website to apply for your next Canadian Mortgage.

land-titles-transfer-tax-home-buyers – Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog

by Bo Kauffmann on December 2, 2010 While the Land Titles Transfer Tax is especially difficult for young, first-time home buyers, even people ‘with money’ find an added tax of 4 grand or more to be a financial ‘hit’. For that reason, Winnipeg

Publish Date: 12/02/2010 13:22

http://bokauffmann.com/land-titles-transfer-tax-home-buyers/

Top 6 Winnipeg Real Estate Blog posts of 2011

Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog is filled with helpful tips and info for home and condo buyers and sellers. Here are the 6 most popular posts of 2011. 55 plus Condominiums in Winnipeg: Are they right for YOU? by Bo Kauffmann on September 10, 2010. After reading this, be sure to check out If and when the time comes to SELL you house or condo, please do not hesitate to e-mail me or call me on my cell at 204-333-2202. If you’re looking to BUY a house or a condo,

Publish Date: 01/19/2012 8:53

http://bokauffmann.com/top-6-winnipeg-real-estate-blog-posts-of-2011/

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City Assessment Value vs. Market Value: How closely related ARE they?

January 29, 2012 Blog
English: Legislature

City Assessment Value vs. Market Value   Every now and then, and usually in the busy spring market, I will meet with home and condo buyers who make reference to “City Assessment Value” of homes.  These folks were placing a lot of weight on the City of Winnipeg Assessment Value of the homes the either [...]

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Real Estate Market Forecast for Winnipeg in spring of 2012

January 16, 2012 Blog
real estate market

Housing and Condo Real Estate Market outlook . At this time of year, news organizations, real estate associations/companies and mortgage industry experts all like to predict the future of the real estate market for the upcoming year.  We need to be aware that many of these organizations, especially the national news media, take an overall [...]

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January 2012 Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update

January 9, 2012 Blog
Winnipeg Real Estate Market

Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update for January 2012 . Every month, I produce a Real Estate Market Update for Winnipeg’s real estate market.  I’ve divided the housing market along 3 different price ranges, from ‘entry level’ homes (between $50,000 and $199,999), to ‘mid-range homes’ (between $200,000 and $399,999)  and finally ‘luxury homes’ (above $400,000).  This real estate market update [...]

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WHEN is the best time to buy a house (or condo)?

December 30, 2011 General Real Estate Info

Best time to buy a house or condo? . A common question among prospective home buyers is “when is the best time to buy a house”?  Keeping in mind our HOT Winnipeg real estate market, my (tongue-in-cheek) reply is “4 years ago“.  But since we don’t have a time-machine, and are forced to deal with [...]

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Buyers ask: “How Much Should We Offer For This House?”

December 28, 2011 General Real Estate Info
Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 1887

Home buyers, especially first-time home buyers, are asking: How much should we offer for this house (or condo)? Here are a couple of scenarios and suggestions for what might be a reasonable offer.

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Winnipeg Real Estate Market Snapshot December 2011 (Video)

December 19, 2011 Blog

Quick-Market Snapshot for Winnipeg in December 2011 . At the beginning of each month, I produce a full Winnipeg Real Estate Market report, which shows the total numbers of homes available in Winnipeg, as well as the numbers of condos available.  These short ‘Quick Market’ snapshots show how many homes and condos have gone beyond [...]

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December 2011 Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update

December 2, 2011 Blog

Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update for December 2011 . Every month, I produce a Real Estate Market Update for Winnipeg’s real estate market.  I’ve divided the housing market along 3 different price ranges, from ‘entry level’ homes (between $50,000 and $199,999), to ‘mid-range homes’ (between $200,000 and $399,999)  and finally ‘luxury homes’ (above $400,000).  This real estate market update [...]

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Winnipeg Real Estate Market Snapshot November 2011 (Video)

November 14, 2011 Blog

Quick Market Snapshot for November 2011 . Each month, I publish a Real Estate Market Update, which shows numbers of available listings in houses and condos in Winnipeg.  In this quick-market snapshot, lets take a closer look at how many of those listings have gone beyond the ‘Offers Dates’ and are waiting for buyers to [...]

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Home-Buying Myths: Reasons for working with your own REALTOR

November 9, 2011 Blog

Do home buyers need their own REALTOR®? . Whenever I hold an Open House, or meet potential buyers at other opportunities, I ask the buyer:  Are you working with a REALTOR®, or are you looking on your own?  When the answer is ”We’re looking on our own”, I inquire as to the reason for doing so.  The [...]

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November 2011 Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update

November 3, 2011 Blog

Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update . Every month, I produce a Real Estate Market Update for Winnipeg’s real estate market.  I’ve divided the housing market along 3 different price ranges, from ‘entry level’ homes (between $50,000 and $199,999), to ‘mid-range homes’ (between $200,000 and $399,999)  and finally ‘luxury homes’ (above $400,000).  This real estate market update will also report [...]

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