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How To Make Your
Dream Home A Reality

248.408.3333

The Boutique Builder

www.AWoodwardHome.com

FIND YOUR PERFECT FLORIDA HOME
AND GET OUT OF MICHIGAN’S WINTERS!

KEYES REAL ESTATE

© Monkey Business - Fotolia.com

THROUGHOUT SOUTH FLORIDA, INCLUDING BOCA, BOYNTON, DELRAY,
BROWARD AND MIAMI – DADE COUNTIES

LET AN OLD FRIEND BE YOUR
MICHIGAN-FLORIDA CONNECTION…

NINA S. SPINNER-SANDS

954-290-8293

NINASPINNER-SANDS@KEYES.COM

Nina Spinner-Sands

REALTOR

)<@ ‹ :,33 ‹ 05=,:;

2038630

Magnificent and Elegant

25445 Franklin Park, Franklin Village | $1,425,000

This home exemplifies the epitome of elegance while being
perfectly nestled on a lush 3 acre lot with a tranquil private
pond. A true oasis and an experience to behold.

Understated Luxury | Exquisitely Designed | Gracious & Open

For more details visit rebeccameisner.com
or contact me for a private showing.

Rebecca Meisner 248-408-2212

rmeisner@cbwm.com | rebeccameisner.com

294 E. Brown Street, Birmingham, Michigan 48009

WEIR MANUEL

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28 May 12 • 2016

S

pring is peak home-buying sea-
son, but for some, a low credit
score may make it difficult for
their dream home to become a reality.
Nearly a third of millennials (ages
18 to 34) hope to purchase a home
within the next year, but more than
40 percent may not have the credit
to do so, according to a survey from
TransUnion, a leading credit bureau.
In contrast, the survey found older
people’s intent to purchase a home
better aligns with their financial stand-
ing. For example, 17 percent of those
ages 35 to 54 said they plan to buy a
home within the next year — the same
percent that has a super prime credit
score — an attractive trait for mort-
gage lenders.
As you start house hunting this
spring, what markets are heating up?
The Northeast is a hot market,
according to TransUnion findings,
with 25 percent of respondents indi-
cating intent to purchase a home in the
region. The West was a close second,
with 24 percent, followed by the South
with 21 percent and 15 percent of
people in the Midwest.
If you’re planning to purchase a
home this year, TransUnion offers sev-
eral important tips to consider to help
make your dream home a reality:
• Check your credit report:
Applying for a mortgage? Mortgage
lenders will look at your credit score
and report when you apply for a mort-
gage, so make sure your information
is up to date. It’s best to check your
report three months before you start
looking at new homes to make sure

your score is in a healthy range.
• Start planning early: Your credit
score is built over a lifetime of spend-
ing. Keep an eye on your score and
track how your spending habits affect
it.
• Build credit: Consumers with low
or no credit should take steps to build
a healthy credit score. How? Paying
bills on time, making sure you’re keep-
ing a low credit utilization ratio (the
amount of credit you’re using out of
your available credit), and even asking
your landlord to report rent payments
to a credit bureau such as TransUnion
are all ways you can build credit.
• Shop around: Research mortgages
and interest rates to receive a competi-
tive offer. Your credit score is of the
utmost importance becausew lenders
will check your score and report to
make sure you will be able to respon-
sible pay back the mortgage loan.
• Make a financial plan: Putting
down a larger down payment will
lower your monthly mortgage pay-
ment, but don’t put down more than
you can afford. Also keep in mind that
you will need funds for closing costs,
including a home inspection, before
you can purchase your home.
• Keep an open mind: It may take
time to build credit and save enough
money for a down payment. Even if
your finances aren’t in shape for a
home now, it doesn’t mean homeown-
ership isn’t a realistic possibility for the
future.
More home-buying tips can be
found at www.transunion.com
Happy hunting!

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