SterlingResidential.com | Buying & Selling Residential Properties in Texas | Houses for Rent Houston Area | Humble Atascocita Kingwood & Spring Texas Realtors | Sterling Residential®, Realtors® | Real Estate Broker: Credit Report Reminder for Houston Home Buyers

Many people start the home buying process by viewing homes, but it’s important to know your purchasing power before making an offer. A good starting place is an examination of your credit history.

While large discrepancies are uncommon, it’s not unusual to find small errors. Incorrect credit report information can lower your credit score, raising your interest rate and increasing your costs. Because mistakes aren’t corrected overnight, experts recommend checking your credit as early as possible.

Since June 2005, The Fair Credit Reporting Act Amendment has required credit reporting bureaus to provide credit reports to Texas consumers. You are entitled to one free annual credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies — Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.

AnnualCreditReport.Com is sponsored by the Big 3 credit reporting agencies where you can find more information about credit reports and learn about services you can purchase through the website. Before providing personal or financial information online, consumers should read website privacy policies and understand their rights and obligations when requesting online services.

After reviewing your credit history, repairing small errors can be handled on your own. While many companies offer credit repair services, the Federal Trade Commission warns the public about consumer websites promoting such services in the FTC publication Credit Repair: Self Help May Be Best.

John Huval, Broker Realtor® GRI e-Pro Copyright© 2006