Personal Finance Tip of the Day

The first step is to order your credit report, so that you may find if there are any errors and inaccuracies in it. The bank will also order the credit report to initiate your loan. The credit report will be used by the loan officers in determining whether or not you are a good candidate for a loan, as well as how much of a loan you can obtain. Next, it is important to have a clear picture of all of your debts, what the balances are, and what the monthly payments are. You should also have a most recent pay stub, showing what your current income is, and the last two to three years of IRS W2 forms, showing your income, as this will be used in determining your eligibility. You should also have the most recent bank and investment account statements showing your most recent balances. At this point, you should also know how much money you will use toward a down payment on the loan.

From The Handy Personal Finance Answer Book by Paul A. Tucci, (c) 2012 Visible Ink Press(R) Answers to more than 1,000 answers to questions on personal finance, its history, and managing one's financial life.