ReCasa Financial Blog

Most real estate investors are quick to answer the question, “What is your most important asset?” with the response “Real estate holdings.”  Others will mention cash reserves.  Working for an organization that caters to only rehab investors , and having completed thousands of deals, we can tell investors that the answer is their credit score!

Mortgage lenders , banks, utility companies, prospective employers, insurance companies, trade creditors, and more use credit scores.  A credit score can have a lasting impact on your ability to grow your real estate business in addition to other aspects of your personal and business endeavors.  Your credit score is your most valuable asset.  It must be protected and nurtured or it will cost you money and opportunities.

Access to Loans

A credit score can make the difference between being able to obtain a loan and getting denied. Even if your score only drops several points, it can result in higher interest rates.  As far as lenders are concerned, lower credit scores equate with higher chances of delinquency, which translates into a higher risk premium on your loans or flat denial of your application. Delinquency is defined as any default, bankruptcy, non-payment or 30-days past due payment.

According to myFICO , a website dedicated to FICO Scores, the following are the delinquency rates for different categories of FICO Scores. A FICO Score is used to establish mortgage rates, car loans, and credit card terms. A FICO Score is devised based on credit history, and helps lenders appraise credit risk.

Assume for a moment that you are the lender and it is your money being lent.

Armed with the “Delinquency Rate” chart, to who would you lend? The answer is obviously that person with the higher credit score meaning lower probability of delinquency.  Who would you give the “best” rate to and who would get the “highest” rate?

Insurance Premiums

Yes, insurance companies use credit scores to determine if they will even provide insurance to a client, the types of coverages that they will make available, and the cost.  Insurance companies have thousands of historical data points and statistical evidence that shows a correlation with “Bad or Lower” credit scores and the probability that an insurance claim will be filed.  The insurance companies take the logical approach that if the probability of a claim being filed is high, then coverage will be denied or reduced and premiums will be raised.   This can occur even after you have an established relationship with a provider if your score drops.

Trade Creditors

Suppliers of building products and many utility companies use the credit score as the primary tool in evaluating whether they will extend credit and how much.   The alternative is to require cash payments or deposits for those products and services.

Building and growing a real estate business can be challenging and requires the management of many variables.   Managing the most important or valuable asset, the credit score, is something that you have control over.  Taking the necessary steps to preserve and increase the score will result in significant savings that can be reinvested in the business and provide access to premium loan and insurance products.

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