I specialize in Kentucky First Time Homebuyers FHA, VA, USDA & Rural Housing, KHC and Fannie Mae mortgage loans. I have helped over 1300 Kentucky families buy their first home or refinance their current mortgage for a lower payment; Kentucky First time buyers we still how available down payment assistance with KHC. Free Mortgage applications/ same day approvals. Web site is not endorsed by the FHA, VA, USDA govt agency. Text/call 502-905-3708 kentuckyloan@gmail.com NMLS 57916 NMLS 1738461
Kentucky Conventional Mortgages – These mortgages are not insured by the government, but they do conform to the government standards known as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. One thing to note about a conventional mortgage is that they require mortgage insurance unless you can put down at least 20%; once the loan’s principal balance drops below 78% of the home’s value, you no longer have to pay mortgage insurance.
Qualifying credit: 620-740
Loan terms: 15 or 30 years
3% Down Payment minimum
Kentucky FHA Loans – An FHA loan is insured by the Federal Housing Administration, who guarantees a portion of the loan should the borrower default. This minimizes the lender’s risk and allows them to expand their borrowing parameters to the benefit of first-time homebuyers who might not have large savings or strong credit. Keep in mind that closing costs will be much higher for this type of mortgage and the home must meet rigorous appraisal standards.
Qualifying credit: 500 minimum with 10% down payment and 580 score higher 3.5% down payment
Kentucky VA LoansIf you are an active duty military personnel (or veteran in California and Hawaii), you may be eligible for this mortgage plan backed by the Dept. of Veteran Affairs. Income and credit requirements are significantly lower than other loans, making the approval process much easier, but be prepared to face longer closing periods than you would experience through a private lender.
Qualifying credit: No minimum Credit score for va loans
Outstanding debt---debt ratios usually around 45% on the backend
Credit background-----looking at last 2-4 years mostly in regards to bankruptcies, foreclosures, short-sales,
Employment history--2 year work history not really the same job but same line of work and pay being consistent.
The newest version of the FICO credit score unveiled on Thursday will have a broader view of how you manage your debt and will boost as many scores as it will hurt.
Instead of relying on just a snapshot of your financial behavior, the new score, called FICO Score 10, will be able to peer into your financial habits for the past 24 months and determine – based on that history – if you’re a risky borrower.
About 40 million Americans will see their FICO score increase by 20 points or more because of the change, while another 40 million will experience a decline by at least 20 points, said Dave Shellenberger, vice president of product management at FICO. Another 30 million will notice smaller changes either way.
“These are the most predictive scores FICO has developed to date,” Shellenberger told Yahoo Money. “They really do an excellent job of reinforcing good consumer financial habits – making payments on time, not running up balances, taking out credit only when you need it. Those types of behaviors are rewarded strongly.”
FICO unveiled a new credit score that will help the credit scores of some Americans and hurt some as well. (Photo: Getty Creative)
Who will the new FICO score hurt?
The new score will judge certain risky behaviors more harshly.
For instance, if you build up balances on your credit cards over the last 24 months, that will hurt your score. Before, the FICO score could only see your current balance, and not the history of your growing credit card debt.
Another potential red flag is personal loans. If you consolidated credit card balances into a personal loan and then subsequently racked up new credit card debt, your score would reflect a riskier borrower.
This is especially timely, given the rise in personal loans over the last five years and increases in credit card debt, according to Matt Schulz, chief industry analyst with CompareCards.com.
“Personal loans have grown to be such a popular tool, it’s good that FICO is going to address that,” he told Yahoo Money. “We certainly have seen a lot of credit card debt move into the personal loan space.”
Building up credit card debt over time will hurt your score more under the new FICO version. (Photo: REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz)
Who will the new FICO score help?
The new score will be more forgiving of other behaviors that may be considered risky by earlier score versions.
For example, if you run up your credit card balances over Christmas or on a summer vacation, but it’s a one-time spike, that won’t hurt your FICO 10 score as much. That’s because the model can look back on historical balances and see this is not a consistent pattern.
“In the past, the FICO score would focus on the most recent data,” Shellenberger said. “FICO 10 gives a more holistic picture that can help during an aberration. That sudden spike’s impact on your score softens considerably.”
Change ‘bound to happen’
A number of changes in the credit landscape prompted FICO to rebuild its score, an undertaking the company does every five years or so. Its score is the most widely used by lenders to determine who to lend to and at what interest rate.
The new score now utilizes so-called trended data in a person’s credit report that shows a person’s credit performance over the last two years. It also provides more granular data, such as the amount you paid toward your credit card.
Previous FICO scores didn’t take into account this trended data, but its competitor – VantageScore – uses the data in its latest score version.
FICO 10 also reflects major changes in credit reports in the last few years due to regulations and settlements. Tax liens, judgments, and medical collections paid by insurance have been removed from credit histories altogether, while defaulted medical debt can’t show up on a report for at least six months.
“This was bound to happen,” John Ulzheimer, a credit expert who formerly worked at FICO and Equifax, told Yahoo Money. “When you take away highly predictive attributes, the scoring models are going to more heavily weigh other attributes that haven't been watered down or removed from consumer credit reports.”
If you pay your bills on time and keep credit card balances low, your credit score will still be high, even under the new FICO score. (Photo: Getty Creative)
Same old credit score rules apply
No matter which FICO score is used, the three pillars of maintaining a high credit score remain the same:
Pay your bills on time, all the time.
Keep balances on your credit cards well below their limits.
Don’t apply for too much credit, too often.
“If you do these three things over and over again,” Schulz said, “over time your credit will be just fine.”
Janna is an editor for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter@JannaHerron.
What do I need to get approved for a Rural Housing Loan in Kentucky?
You really need to look at the four following items below:
Credit Score: They typically want a 640 credit score with no bankruptcies or foreclosures in the last 3 years. KY USDA Loans are initially ran thru GUS (Guarantee Underwriting System), an underwriting approval engine online that Kentucky USDA Mortgage lenders use to tell us how much you are qualified for based on the income, assets, property, and credit provided. Most lenders will want an Approved Eligible. If your score is below 640, you will automatically get a refer eligible which most lenders will not do.
Homeownership: You cannot currently own another home with a USDA loan but there are waivers granted if you can show the current living arrangements are not suitable and safe for your family.
Income: Typically, you cannot make more than $86k approximately for a household family of four, and up to $115k for a household family of five in most Kentucky counties. Some Kentucky Counties are more but not much.
Location: Kentucky has 120 counties, and USDA is not allowed in the following KY Counties: Jefferson, Fayette (whole county) and parts of McCracken, Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Bullitt, Daviess, Warren, Franklin and Christian counties. The best thing to do on the location is tell me an address and I can look it up for you.
Why Work With Me?
Local Expertise: I know the ins and outs of Kentucky’s housing market and loan programs.
Fast Approvals: I offer free mortgage applications with same-day approvals to keep the process moving quickly.
Customized Loan Solutions: Whether you’re buying a home or refinancing, I’ll find the right loan program to fit your needs.
Personalized Service: I treat every client like family, ensuring you’re supported and informed throughout the process.
About My Website
Visit my website for a wealth of resources tailored to Kentucky homebuyers. You’ll find:
Step-by-step guides for first-time homebuyers.
Information on loan programs like FHA, VA, USDA, and KHC.
Tools to help you calculate potential payments and affordability.
Blog posts with tips and updates on the Kentucky housing market.
A secure portal to start your loan application and upload documents.
Please Note: My website is not endorsed by the FHA, VA, USDA, or any government agency. It is an independent platform created to educate and assist homebuyers with expert advice and accessible tools.
