increasing your credit scores part 2

DDA Mortgage • September 13, 2021

3 things you can do to improve your credit scores, Mortgage Broker Largo.

When buying a house, a 30 point difference in your credit score can change your rates, determine loan terms and type, and can even influence your ability to win in a multiple offer situation.


Here are three things you can do to help boost your credit score and help you qualify for the best loan.



Student Loans, How They Affect Your Debt-to-income Mortgage Calculation


As a friend of ours always says, "you can pay me now, or pay me later." If you defer your loans you debt continues to grow. As your debt grows, you debt-to-income level also changes.


What does this mean for you and your mortgage qualification? As a broker, we take .5% of your total student loan debt to determine your monthly obligation. If you have $100,000 in loans, we assume you will have a monthly payment of $500.


The good news. If you start to payback your loans and go on an income-based repayment plan, we can use your actual payments. I recently qualified a couple where the wife had a debt of $240,000. Yikes! I told her to start repaying her loans ASAP. She was able to start an income-based plan of about $300/mo, and after three months, I was able to pull her actual payments and qualify them for a $380,000 loan. If you have student loans, and would like us to run your numbers, start an application and we can review everything with you.



Medical Collections, Mortgage Qualification, And Credit Scores


Medical collections can be tricky. You would think, "I payoff the debt, and my credit score goes up." Unfortunately, this is not how it works.


You need to do two things. 1st, pay off the loan. 2nd, you need to ask for a deletion letter. A deletion letter lets the credit burrows know everything is in good standing. This helps improve your credit score and helps you qualify for a mortgage.



30 Day Late, Make A Call And Get It Removed


Most credit card companies will remove late notices or 30 day lates if you simply give them a call. We know, this one sounds too easy, but it is true. With most credit cards all it takes is identifying a mark on your credit report, calling, being polite, and asking them to remove it. As long as the card is in good standing, they should take care of it for you.



If you are thinking of buying a home, it is critical that you have the highest credit score possible to get the lowest interest rate available. The best way to improve your score is to
talk to one of our mortgage specialists. We can look at your credit and let you know how to improve your score.


If you want to buy a home, start your application, and get pre-qualified.




Start Your Loan with DDA today
Your local Mortgage Broker

Mortgage Broker Largo
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Check out our other helpful videos to learn more about credit and residential mortgages.

By Didier Malagies October 13, 2025
Here are alternative ways to qualify for a mortgage without using tax returns: 🏦 1. Bank Statement Loans How it works: Lenders review 12–24 months of your business or personal bank statements to calculate your average monthly deposits (as income). Used for: Self-employed borrowers, business owners, gig workers, freelancers. What they look at: Deposit history and consistency Business expenses (they’ll apply an expense factor, usually 30–50%) No tax returns or W-2s required. 💳 2. Asset Depletion / Asset-Based Loans How it works: Instead of income, your assets (like savings, investments, or retirement funds) are used to demonstrate repayment ability. Used for: Retirees, high-net-worth individuals, or anyone with substantial savings but limited current income. Example: $1,000,000 in liquid assets might qualify as $4,000–$6,000/month “income” (depending on lender formula). 🧾 3. P&L (Profit and Loss) Statement Only Loans How it works: Lender uses a CPA- or tax-preparer-prepared Profit & Loss statement instead of tax returns. Used for: Self-employed borrowers who can show business income trends but don’t want to use full tax documents. Usually requires: 12–24 months in business + CPA verification. 🏘️ 4. DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) Loans How it works: Common for real estate investors — qualification is based on the property’s rental income, not your personal income. Formula: Gross Rent ÷ PITI (Principal + Interest + Taxes + Insurance) DSCR ≥ 1.0 means the property “covers itself.” No tax returns, W-2s, or employment verification needed. 💼 5. 1099 Income Loan How it works: Uses your 1099 forms (from contract work, commissions, or freelance income) as income documentation instead of full tax returns. Used for: Independent contractors, salespeople, consultants, etc. Often requires: 1–2 years of consistent 1099 income. Higher down payment and interest rate required. tune in and learn https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog didier malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329 
By Didier Malagies October 6, 2025
A third mortgage is an additional loan secured by the same property after a first and second mortgage already exist. It’s essentially a third lien on the property, which means it’s in third place to be repaid if the borrower defaults — making it riskier for lenders. Because of this higher risk, third mortgages typically: Have higher interest rates, Offer smaller loan amounts, and Require strong borrower profiles or solid property equity. 🤖 How AI Is Transforming 3rd Mortgage Lending AI tools can make offering third mortgages much more efficient and lower-risk by handling the data-heavy analysis that used to take underwriters days. Here’s how: 1. AI-Powered Lead Generation AI platforms identify homeowners with significant equity but limited cash flow — ideal candidates for third liens. Example: AI scans property databases, loan records, and credit profiles to spot someone with 60–70% total combined LTV (Loan-to-Value). The system targets those borrowers automatically with personalized financing offers. 2. Smart Underwriting AI underwriters use advanced algorithms to evaluate: Combined LTV across all liens, Income stability and payment history, Real-time credit behavior, Local property value trends. This allows the lender to make quick, data-backed decisions on small, higher-risk loans while keeping default rates low. 3. Dynamic Pricing AI adjusts rates and terms based on real-time risk scoring — similar to how insurance companies use predictive pricing. For example: Borrower A with 65% CLTV might get 10% APR. Borrower B with 85% CLTV might see 13% APR. 4. Automated Servicing and Risk Monitoring Post-funding, AI tools can monitor the borrower’s financial health, detect early signs of distress, and even suggest restructuring options before default risk rises. 💡 Why It’s Appealing Opens a new revenue stream for lenders and brokers, Meets demand for smaller equity-tap loans without refinancing, Uses AI automation to keep costs low despite higher credit risk, Attracts tech-savvy borrowers seeking quick approvals. tune in and learn https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog didier malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329
By Didier Malagies September 29, 2025
Great question — the 10-year U.S. Treasury Note (T-Note) is one of the most important benchmarks in finance, and it’s tightly linked to interest rates. Here’s a breakdown of how it works and why it matters: 1. What the 10-Year Treasury Is It’s a bond issued by the U.S. government with a maturity of 10 years. Investors buy it, loaning money to the government in exchange for: Semiannual coupon payments (interest), and The face value back at maturity. Because it’s backed by the U.S. government, it’s considered one of the safest investments in the world. 2. Yield vs. Price The yield is the effective return investors earn on the bond. The yield moves inversely with the bond’s price: If demand is high and price goes up → yield goes down. If demand falls and price goes down → yield goes up. 3. Connection to Interest Rates The 10-year Treasury yield reflects investor expectations about: Future Federal Reserve policy (Fed funds rate). Inflation (higher inflation expectations push yields higher). Economic growth (slower growth often pushes yields lower). While the Fed directly controls only the short-term Fed funds rate, the 10-year yield is market-driven and often moves in anticipation of where the Fed will go. 4. Why It’s So Important Mortgage rates & lending costs: 30-year mortgage rates generally move in step with the 10-year yield (plus a spread). If the 10-year goes up, mortgage rates usually rise. Benchmark for global finance: Companies, governments, and banks often price loans and bonds based on the 10-year yield. Risk sentiment: Investors flock to Treasuries in times of uncertainty, driving yields down (“flight to safety”). 5. Practical Example Suppose the Fed raises short-term rates to fight inflation. Investors expect tighter policy and possibly lower inflation later. If they believe inflation will fall, demand for 10-years might rise → yields drop. But if they fear inflation will stay high, demand falls → yields rise. Mortgage rates, business loans, and even stock valuations all adjust accordingly. ✅ In short: The 10-year Treasury is the bridge between Fed policy and real-world borrowing costs. It signals market expectations for growth, inflation, and Fed moves, making it a crucial guide for interest rates across the economy. tune in and learn https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog didier malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329 
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