The after effects of the mortgage loan crisis are going to be felt for years to come. Already loan and mortgage lenders are tightening the criteria of lending and you may feel the change when you are out shopping for a loan.

The FICO credit score is the most widely used primary factor to assess you risk as borrower. The score ranges from 300 – 850. The higher the score, the better the interest rates and terms offered to you on credit lines and loans. A score of 700 and above has so far been considered a healthy number, but this is now changing with the lenders becoming more risk averse. The lenders have now upped their criteria for eligibility and better borrowing rates by almost 20 – 40 points. [Read more…]