Credit Scoring

There are three primary categories for considering a credit rating: Mortgage Credit, Consumer Credit, Public Records

The more serious the credit problems, the further the grade decreases. As the grade on the loan decreases, lenders generally assess higher rates and fees.

Debt Ratio
Lenders calculate the debt ratio by dividing the total monthly debts (the housing expenses for the proposed loan plus the borrower’s other monthly credit obligations) by the total monthly income. If a borrower has a low debt ratio, the credit-scoring grade will be higher. Conversely, if a borrower has a high debt ratio, the grade will be lower.

Maximum LTV
Loan-to-Value Ratio, or LTV as it is commonly referred to, is the ratio of loan amount to the appraised value (or the sales price, whichever is less) of a property.

If the credit history, debt ratio, and loan to value ratio are unsatisfactory, the quality of the loan may be downgraded to an A-, B, C or D. “D Paper” loans refer to loans known as hard money loans that are mostly based on the equity in the home and not on the borrower’s credit. A lender who is making an A-, B, C or D paper loan is taking a higher risk since there is an increased likelihood of the loan defaulting. Additionally, these loans are not insured or guaranteed. The lender is compensated for higher risk by charging the borrower a higher interest rate:

If current interest rates were 7%, and the borrower is considered a prime borrower, the loan would be granted by a prime lender at 7%. However, if the borrower is not a prime borrower, he may seek financing elsewhere and be charged a higher rate of interest.

The interest rates quoted for A-, B, C or D paper loans vary among lenders. An example follows:

A-paper could have rates 1% - 1.75% higher than A paper
B paper could have rates 0.25% - 0.75% higher than A- paper
C paper could have rates 0.75% - 1.5% higher than B paper
D paper could have rates 1% - 1.75% higher than C paper


Using the higher end of the scale above for each rating, and starting with a 7% interest rate, the following chart is an example of the interest rate a borrower may pay:

A- 8.75%
B 9.50%
C 11.00%
D 12.75%

Look at those numbers and see how your credit rating matters , a potential 4% difference