HOME-BUYING TIPS TO GET YOU BACK IN THE GAME

BY ANNA & MICHELLE

If you’re on the sidelines to buy a home, there are things you can do to be ready when you do get back in the game.

Improve your credit score to qualify for the best mortgage rate available, which is reserved for those with the highest scores. Get a copy of your current credit reports from all three of the main credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. You can get them at AnnualCreditReport.com without paying for them.

While you won’t see a credit score on these reports, you will see a history of your available credit accounts. According to the Federal Trade Commission, one in five people has at least one error on one of their credit reports, which can lower your score or increase the cost or likelihood of receiving new credit. Identify and correct these mistakes.

Explain in writing the error in the report and include copies of documents that support your dispute. Both the credit bureau and the business that supplied the information must correct the information that is in error. There will not be a fee to correct it. You can get specific info for the process on each credit reporting company’s website and from the FTC Consumer Advice.

There is a term call “credit utilization” which describes how much of your available credit on each revolving account is currently being used. If the limit on one card was $10,000 and you had a $5,000 balance, the utilization ratio is 50%. A mounts above 30% can negatively impact your credit score even if you do pay the balance each month.

Any delinquent items that may appear on your credit report need to be cleared up. Regardless of whether there is a legitimate reason, it needs to be explained to the credit bureau. reported on consumer credit reports.

value require mortgage insurance, which increases the monthly payment.

tion to the rule is for VA loans, which do not require it. The cost of mortgage insurance could add 0.5% to 2% or more to the payment.

Lower your debt-to-income ratio by paying off installment loans for cars, boats, and other things.

While there are legitimate credit repair services available, you may be able to get excellent advice from a trusted mortgage professional. You’ll eventually want to be Your real estate agent can make a recommendation to connect you with someone who will get you ready to get back into

Deputies Stop

Residential Burglary in Progress

On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at approximately 9:05 p.m., Blaine County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a residence in Ketchum.

Deputies were able to locate the suspect in his vehicle at the residence. Upon investigation, it was determined the suspect’s vehicle contained seven bottles of alcohol with a value of $750$1,000 each, which had been removed from the residence. During a search incident to arrest, a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia were located.

Jacob Reed Russell, age 19 of Ketchum, was arrested and charged with two felonies, Burglary, I.C. 18-1401, and Grand Theft, I.C. 18-2407, and two misdemeanors, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana Less Than Three Ounces, I.C. 37-2732(C)3, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, I.C. 37-2734A(1).

Russell is in the custody of the Blaine County Detention Center pending arraignment in Magistrate Court on Thursday afternoon.

Single Vehicle Rollover Crash

On Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at approximately 8:59 a.m., Blaine County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a single-vehicle rollover crash on State Highway 75 near milepost 149, south of Galena Lodge.

Deputies discovered a white 1993 Toyota single-cab pickup truck lying on its side in the middle of the highway blocking the northbound lane. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as a 17-year-old male from Fairfield.

Crash scene investigation determined that the driver was traveling northbound on Hwy 75 and lost control of the vehicle after traveling over a patch of ice in the roadway. The truck hit the northbound snowbank and rolled onto its roof before coming to a stop on its passenger side.

The driver was transported via ground ambulance for non-life-threatening injuries to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center. The vehicle sustained moderate damage and was towed from the scene.

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