The headline of Sandra Block (of USA TODAY)'s recent column says it all: "Home buyers need good credit scores even with 20% down payment." Credit is tight, tight, tight, and even people who assumed they could sail in and get a loan before may have trouble now.
Block also offers some sound advice for raising credit scores, including the latest word on whether to close little-used credit card accounts.
And given that even making a 20% down payment is difficult without some family help, it's worth checking out this Wall Street Journal article by June Fletcher, which succinctly discusses issues like whether it's better to arrange a gift or a loan, and what happens if the giver doesn't file a tax return. (Big penalties despite the fact that no gift tax needs to be paid during one's lifetime!)
Block also offers some sound advice for raising credit scores, including the latest word on whether to close little-used credit card accounts.
And given that even making a 20% down payment is difficult without some family help, it's worth checking out this Wall Street Journal article by June Fletcher, which succinctly discusses issues like whether it's better to arrange a gift or a loan, and what happens if the giver doesn't file a tax return. (Big penalties despite the fact that no gift tax needs to be paid during one's lifetime!)
