As you probably already know, having “good credit” can help you get favorable interest rates on loans and may even make you look like a good candidate for a job or an apartment rental. But how can a person achieve the abstraction of “good credit?” There are a few ways. Here’s a look at one: [...]

There is a lot of hype out there about credit: how you can fix your credit, improve your credit, trash your credit and actually view your credit report and score. And it’s no wonder: credit scores and reports are essential to financial stability. It never hurts to review these important basics, so here’s a look [...]

In the wild pre-recession housing market, many mortgage lenders required little or no proof of potential mortgagee’s incomes. Mortgages were often based solely on the borrower’s personal guarantee.
Needless to say, this arrangement worked poorly for both lenders and borrowers, as the mortgage foreclosure rate continues to skyrocket today. As a result, mortgage lenders are now [...]

As you may already know, your credit report is a collection of data about your financial history: bill payment, types of debts, amount of debt, payment history on debts, etc. And, thanks to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, every American is entitled to one free credit report from each of the big three [...]

A lot of hints for improving your credit focus on positive behaviors to cultivate (eliminate unsecured debt, make payments on time, raise your available credit, etc.), which is helpful. But now and again, it’s also useful to have a reminder about what behaviors to avoid in order to keep moving toward a strong credit rating. [...]

If your credit report is less than squeaky-clean, you may have found that it’s difficult to find lenders willing to offer you affordable loans. Unfortunately, some fraudsters out there know this and have developed scams to take advantage of those with blemished credit who need to borrow money.
Protect Your Money by Avoiding Loan Scams
The Federal [...]

The Credit CARD Act took full one month ago and introduced numerous consumer protections for U.S. citizens. As we’re beginning to see, though, many credit card issuers have reacted to the new restrictions by developing clever new ways to make money from their clients.
Here’s a look at some techniques not prohibited by the Credit CARD [...]