Ron and Alexandra Seigel hi Alexandra... we try to maintain an 800 or better credit score ourselves... but I well know that is not the norm. I know there are many potential home buyers who don't take that first step because they don't know they don't need a perfect score. Over the years, I've helped many a client become a homeowner who was convinced they'd never qualify.

Ron and Alexandra Seigel great point, Alexandra. It hadn't occurred to me until you mentioned it!

Greg Brown, Sales Rep Toronto, Durham region hi Greg... you can almost always find a lender... but boy will you pay through the nose once your credit score drops below a certain point.

Grant Schneider hi Grant... debt to income ratio is important and I made note of that... but that credit score is the first thing lenders check before they look at anything else.

Barbara Todaro hi Barbara... my husband does the monitoring in our household... that's his job! :) But we also try to keep our rating at 800 or better.

Will Hamm thanks, Will. I suspect that those of us who keep a close eye on our credit scores are in the minority.

George Souto good morning, George. My husband and I try to keep at least an 800 score. Anything over that, as you said, is gravy.

Ed Silva good morning, Ed... it's amazing to me how many people almost never look at their credit reports and then get "surprises" when they need to apply for a mortgage or car loan. Especially as it's so easy to check these days.

Kathy Streib good morning, Kathy... lots of misconceptions out there -- in terms of credit scores needed, down payments needed.

James Dray What! You better make it a new year resolution, James, to check your credit score in 2021!

Brian England hi Brian... nothing like a bit of brotherly competition even if it's about credit scores! :)

Joan Cox hi Joan... it's still possible to get a loan with less than 620... but you are so right... you'll pay for it through the rate. Then again, rates are so low now, it might not matter that much to some people with lower credit scores.

Roy Kelley hi Roy... the longer I'm in this business, the more I realize that there are long-standing misconceptions about what you need to do to purchase a home... so this is a message that can't be repeated enough.

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! hi Wanda... thankfully for us as real estate professionals, there are way more options for people with lower credit scores and/or low downpayments to still achive the American Dream of homeownership. 

Raymond Henson, SRES, GRI good Sunday morning, Ray. It never ceases to amaze my how many really smart people don't pay attention to their credit scores and their charge card statements and then complain about it when they find problems.