Dignified Home Loans - Oxnard

What is a credit score?
Lenders use your credit score (along with your employment history, income ad their own internal scoring systems) to determine whether or not they will lend you money or extend credit.
There are 2 primary credit scoring methods that you need to know about: FICO and VantageScore. Each is used to determine your creditworthiness (how likely you are to repay your loan) along with your interest rate, length of the loan, and even how much you can borrow. Both FICO and VantageScore use a range of 300-850 to determine this, with a higher score showing you are fiscally responsible and the risk of lending to you is low.
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, as promised, here are some quick credit tips:

1. Pay on time, every time. Even if you are making the bare minimum payment, meeting that debt obligation is key to building good credit!

2. Pay off bills with the highest interest first. You'll reduce the amount you pay in interest over time, saving you money in the long run.

3. Or, conversely, pay off the smallest bills first. This is the theory behind Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball Plan: You'll see results quickly so stay motivated!

4. Put "bonus funds" toward paying down your debt. This includes a bonus from work, a tax refund, or any other lump-sum payment you receive. (But only if you have a savings cushion built up first!)

Are you interested in seeing how your current credit score might affect a new mortgage? DM us today and let's take a look together!

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..... A list of ways to keep down the cost of electricity!

Whether you are lighting up the neighborhood with your own 'Christmas Vacation' worthy light display or covering the inside of the house with lights for an old-fashioned family Christmas (complete with aunt Bethany's "Jell-O mold") you are going to be using a bit more electricity than usual and here is how to ho- ho - ho for less less less.

❄ Use LED lights
❄ Put electrical decorations on a timer or smart plug
❄ Layer in the elements that don't use power, like ribbons, garlands, wreaths, and candles (both regular and flameless)
❄ Cook with energy-efficient appliances like microwaves, slow cookers, and insta-pots!
❄ Keep your oven closed
If you must use your oven, don't peek inside while the food is cooking
❄ Seal cracks and replace weatherstripping around doors and windows
❄ Install a programable thermostat
❄ Break out your festive holiday sweaters to keep the thermostat lower!