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Homebuyers who have a better credit history over a longer stretch of time than a shorter one may benefit by a change to the credit-scoring model used by Experian.

Up until about 2016, mortgage lenders didnt use trended credit data and didnt differentiate between types of credit usage.

What is trended credit data?” It’s the information that credit bureaus gather on how consumers manage their credit card balances, and it goes beyond paying your credit card bills on time each month.

The updated model”Trended 3D”uses trended credit data to provide information on borrowers balances and credit lines over the past 24 months. Thats a longer view of consumers’ behavior than traditional credit reports provide.

Lenders prefer transactors who pay off their credit card balances every month over revolvers who carry balances from month to month. The change is that Trended 3D makes a distinction between those types of borrowers, giving transactors a credit-scoring advantage.

Mortgage lenders prefer borrowers who pay off their credit cards each month. If not, they like to at least see borrowers carry shrinking balances because theyre paying more than the minimum payment each month. What they dont want to see is someone making the minimum payment on their credit cards and to have credit balances growing.

The number of borrowers who are eligible for the lowest mortgage rates could increase through the use of trended credit data if theyve paid off their credit card balances each month for most of the past two years.

Fannie Mae started using Trended 3D in 2016 with its automated underwriting software. The government-backed home loans are used by more than 1,800 lenders. The extra data is supposed to give some borrowers more access to credit than they would have under the old scoring models.

Fannie Mae only uses trended credit data for conventional loans. It doesnt use that information when making approval recommendations for FHA-insured or VA-backed mortgages.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are five features that will provide an upscale feel to your outdoor space

Covered Seating

Be it a loggia, pergola or trellis, provide a comfortable place to gather outdoors.

Infinity Pool

In addition to providing a place to swim on a hot day, infinity pools have a certain wow factor.

Entertaining Area

An outdoor kitchen, barbecue, or wet bar ensure that all entertaining needs are accounted for.

Fire it Up

A fire in the evenings is one of the ultimate backyard luxuries. Its a focal point and natural place to gather around.

Privacy & Plantings

Thoughtful landscape design will make a backyard or terrace feel like your own private escape.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Do you look around your living space at the end of the busy work week and think, “What happened?” Piles of mail, dirty laundry and dishes are lurking around every corner. Between work and family, it can be hard to carve out the time to clear clutter. Below are three tips to manage clutter daily.

Make a clutter clearing playlist. At the end of the day, choose one or two songs, put them on and do a surface clean. Put the laundry away, empty the dishwasher and clear the kitchen table. By the time your chosen tracks are up”roughly six to eight minutes”your place will look a lot better, and so will your mental state.

Set yourself up for success. By having designated areas for the items that end up laying around, you will be more likely to put things away properly. Have a basket for mail that needs opening, a bin for shoes by the front door, and a station for things like keys, headphones and change that gets dumped from your pockets when you walk in.

Enlist help. Do you have a roommate, spouse or kids? Get them to pitch in every night after dinner and clear the day’s clutter.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Even if you cant afford a home security system, you can protect your home and family with some quick, easy fixes that provide peace of mind without dipping deep into your pockets.

Try these tips from HGTV, the home and garden channel:

Change the locks ” If you havent changed the locks since you moved in, someone out there has a key. Upgrade the locks, and while youre at it, check the security of your doors.

Remove hidden keys ” If theres one under the mat or under a potted plant, you can bet a burglar will find it.

Get a dog ” Dogs create a ruckus that can deter the average burglar. If you dont own a dog, put a sign on the gate warning that you do. For that matter, you can fake an alarm system by posting a security system decal.

Use timers ” Digital timers enable you to randomly switch on interior lights and music to create the illusion that someone is at home.

Add lighting ” Motion detector lights around the exterior of your home are an inexpensive way to deter a break-in. A light coming as someone approaches your doors is enough to send most intruders away.

Install a camera “ Thanks to inexpensive DIY systems costing about $100, you can install a camera outside your home to let thieves know you have an eye on them.

Install window stops “ They prevent windows from being opened more than six inches ” enough to allow for ventilation but not enough to let in a burglar. For slider windows, a broomstick cut to size will bar human access.

Vacation smarter “ When you leave home for more than a day or two, stop mail and newspaper deliveries, as a pile-up advertises your absence. Let a neighbor know you will be away and ask him/her to put at least one of your trash cans on the street and take it in again. Last but not least, tell the local police when you will be away. Most departments will be happy to do an occasional observation drive-by.

Dont advertise ” You never know who may be scanning your Facebook page or reading someone elses email. Dont announce your upcoming vacation except verbally to friends and family.

Hope this helps keep your home safe. Contact me for more tips and insights.

Published with permission from RISMedia.