<p>If you&rsquo;re thinking about purchasing your first home, you probably have a number of questions running through your mind: What if my credit score is too low? Can I afford a down payment? What else should I be worrying about? The good news is that, by creating&mdash;and following!&mdash;a plan, you can confidently prepare for the home buying process.</p>
<h3>Work on building and improving your credit now</h3>
<p>The sooner you start working toward a better credit score the better. Here are some simple tips for getting your score higher:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Pay every bill on time, every time.</strong>&nbsp;Schedule payments ahead of time with Bill Pay and say bye-bye to late payments once and for all.</li>
<li><strong>Check your credit report.</strong>&nbsp;The three major reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) each offer a free credit report once every 12 months. Make it a habit of rotating through the reporting agencies to intermittently pull your credit. That way, you can identify and resolve errors as quickly as possible!</li>
<li><strong>Consider opening a Secured Visa credit card.&nbsp;</strong>This type of credit card uses a secured savings account as collateral (for instance, to have a $1,000 credit limit, you&rsquo;ll need to maintain $1,000 in savings). By continually borrowing against your own savings&mdash;and paying your Secured Visa bill on time!&mdash;you can establish positive credit history to help improve your score.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Discover your down payment options</h3>
<p>Depending on the type of mortgage you receive, your down payment might be a lot less than you think. With an FHA mortgage, it&rsquo;s possible to purchase a home with as little as 3.5% down! In some cases, you might even qualify for a conventional mortgage with only a 3% down payment.</p>
<h3>Talk with a Mortgage Specialist</h3>
<p>One of our expert Mortgage Specialists will gladly answer all of your questions about purchasing a home. We can help you decide which type of mortgage best fits your needs and give you an idea of what you can afford and how much you&rsquo;ll need for a down payment.&nbsp;<a href="https://midfloridacreditunion.mymortgage-online.com/?loanapp&amp;siteid=7019353305&amp;workFlowId=68314">Request a free consultation</a>&nbsp;with a Mortgage Specialist near you and get started today!</p>