Tips on How to Improve Your Credit Score
Hey folks, it's time to get real about your credit score. If you're anything like me, you probably don't pay much attention to it until it's time to apply for a loan or credit card. But did you know that your credit score can make or break your ability to obtain a mortgage loan?
.
When you apply for a mortgage loan, lenders take a close look at your credit score and credit history. They want to know if you're a responsible borrower who will pay back the loan on time and in full. A good credit score can help you qualify for a mortgage loan with a lower interest rate and better terms, while a poor credit score can make it more difficult to get approved and result in higher interest rates and less favorable terms.
.
In short, your credit score is one of the most important factors that lenders consider when deciding whether to approve you for a mortgage loan. By taking steps to improve your credit score, you can increase your chances of getting approved for a loan with better terms and save yourself thousands of dollars in the process.
1. Check your credit report regularly
This is a no-brainer, but it's worth repeating. Make sure to check your credit report for any errors or fraudulent activity. You can get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus every year, so take advantage of it.
2. Pay your bills on time
This one seems obvious, but it's worth emphasizing. Late payments can have a big impact on your credit score, so set up automatic payments or reminders to make sure you're always on time.
3. Lower your credit utilization ratio
Your credit utilization ratio is the amount of credit you're using compared to your credit limit. Aim to keep your utilization ratio under 30% to improve your score.
1. Check your credit report regularly
This is a no-brainer, but it's worth repeating. Make sure to check your credit report for any errors or fraudulent activity. You can get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus every year, so take advantage of it.
2. Pay your bills
on time
This one seems obvious, but it's worth emphasizing. Late payments can have a big impact on your credit score, so set up automatic payments or reminders to make sure you're always on time.
3. Lower your credit utilization ratio
Your credit utilization ratio is the amount of credit you're using compared to your credit limit. Aim to keep your utilization ratio under 30% to improve your score.
4. Increase your credit limit
If you're struggling to keep your credit utilization ratio low, consider asking for a credit limit increase. Just make sure not to use the extra credit as an excuse to spend more.
5. Diversify your credit
Having a mix of credit types (like a credit card, auto loan, and mortgage) can improve your credit score. But don't open new accounts just to add diversity - only take on credit that you actually need and can handle responsibly.
4. Increase your
credit limit
If you're struggling to keep your credit utilization ratio low, consider asking for a credit limit increase. Just make sure not to use the extra credit as an excuse to spend more.
5. Diversify your credit
Having a mix of credit types (like a credit card, auto loan, and mortgage) can improve your credit score. But don't open new accounts just to add diversity - only take on credit that you actually need and can handle responsibly.
Blogs
The Top 5 Mortgage Mistakes to Avoid
Buying your first home can be both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. With so many things to consider and....
Mortgage Do and
Do not list
Mortgages can be tricky, and it's easy to make mistakes that can end up costing you dearly. That's why we've put together this list....
Tips On How To Improve Your Credit Score
Let's talk about some ways you can improve your credit score! Your credit score is actually a big deal, and it can affect...
🏬 Why Retail Isn’t Dead — It’s Evolving in Texas Commercial Real Estate 💰
🏬 Why Retail Isn’t Dead — It’s Evolving in Texas Commercial Real Estate 💰
📈 Retail Real Estate Is Back: How Smart Financing Is Fueling the Comeback 🚀
Why Retail Isn’t Dead
For years, headlines claimed retail was finished. E-commerce was taking over. Shopping centers would sit vacant. Brick-and-mortar was obsolete.
That narrative was incomplete — and in Texas, it’s proving wrong.
Retail isn’t dead. It’s recalibrated. And for investors, business owners, and borrowers, this shift creates opportunity — especially when paired with the right financing strategy.
As a mortgage and commercial loan broker at Medallion Funds, I see where capital is flowing. Retail is still attracting lenders — but only for the right assets, in the right locations, with the right structure.
Let’s break it down.
What Actually Changed in Retail?
Retail didn’t disappear. Weak concepts did.
The sector shifted from:
• Commodity big-box overexpansion
• Mall-centric traffic models
• Overleveraged speculative development
To:
• Service-oriented tenants (medical, fitness, salons, restaurants)
• Grocery-anchored neighborhood centers
• Experience-driven retail
• High-income suburban growth corridors
In Texas — especially Houston, Katy, Fulshear, and Dallas — population growth and household formation continue to support neighborhood retail fundamentals.
Consumers still want convenience.
They still dine out.
They still need services close to home.
That demand doesn’t vanish because of Amazon.
The Data Tells a Different Story
Across major Texas metros:
• Vacancy in well-located neighborhood retail remains tight
• New retail construction is disciplined
• Tenant demand for quality space is selective but stable
• Cap rates have normalized, not collapsed
Retail is not in freefall — it’s in repricing and refinement.
And lenders are paying attention.
Why Lenders Still Finance Retail
Banks and private debt funds are still active in retail when:
✔ Tenant mix is diversified
✔ Lease rollover is manageable
✔ Debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) is strong
✔ Location fundamentals are durable
✔ The borrower has liquidity and experience
From a financing standpoint, retail loans today are structured with more conservative leverage and stronger underwriting. That’s healthy — not fatal.
If you structure the deal correctly:
• Lower leverage can reduce refinance risk
• Fixed-rate structures can stabilize long-term cash flow
• SBA loans can help owner-users acquire retail condos or storefronts
• Bridge financing can reposition vacant centers
Retail deals are getting done every week. They just require precision.
Where Opportunity Exists
Retail opportunity in 2026 isn’t about chasing distressed malls. It’s about disciplined execution.
Look for:
• Grocery-anchored centers in growth corridors
• Pads in master-planned communities
• Medical or dental retail conversions
• Restaurant second-generation spaces
• Value-add centers with lease-up potential
In high-growth Texas suburbs, retail supply has been constrained for years. That’s a structural support for long-term rent stability.
Financing Strategy Matters More Than Ever
The difference between a good retail deal and a failed one is often financing design.
Key considerations:
1. Debt Yield & DSCR
Underwrite conservatively. Stress-test vacancy.
2. Refinance Risk
Avoid short maturities unless you have a defined exit.
3. Tenant Credit Quality
National credit tenants reduce perceived lender risk.
4. Liquidity Planning
Have reserves. Retail rewards patient capital.
This is where advisory-driven mortgage brokerage matters.
At Medallion Funds, we evaluate:
• Bank financing
• SBA 7(a) and 504 programs
• DSCR loans
• Bridge loans
• Fixed vs floating structures
Retail isn’t dead. But loose underwriting is.
The Texas Advantage
Texas continues to benefit from:
• Population migration
• Corporate relocations
• Job growth
• Pro-business policy
That economic engine supports retail fundamentals — particularly in suburban growth nodes.
Retail follows rooftops.
Rooftops are growing in Texas.
That math still works.
Final Take
Retail isn’t dead.
Overbuilt, poorly located, highly leveraged retail is struggling.
Disciplined, well-located, service-oriented retail in growing Texas corridors remains financeable and investable.
The opportunity isn’t gone.
It’s selective.
And selective markets reward strategic borrowers.
If you’re evaluating a retail acquisition, refinance, or development opportunity, let’s structure it correctly from day one.
—
Bill Rapp
Medallion Funds
Commercial & Residential Mortgage Brokerage
📞 281-222-0433
🌐 https://billrapponline.com
https://www.billrapponline.com/
https://findamortgagebroker.com/Profile/WilliamRappJr28883
https://billrapp.commloan.com/
https://billrapponline.com/financingfuturescre-houston-katy
https://houstoncommercialmortgage.com/
https://author.billrapponline.com
https://doctorvideo.billrapponline.com/
https://veteransvideo.billrapponline.com/
https://mortgageviking.billrapponline.com/
https://fha203h.billrapponline.com/
https://renovationvideo.billrapponline.com
https://medallionfunds.com/bill-rapp/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F32Z5BH2
https://veed.cello.so/FOmzTty6oi9
https://buymeacoffee.com/vikingente3
https://creplaybookseries.billrapponline.com
https://creplaybook.billrapponline.com/
© 2023-2024 Bill Rapp, Medallion Funds LLC, Director of Capital Advisory
10 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
Buying your first home can be both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. With so many things to consider and....
How To Choose the Right Lender for You
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy
Refinancing youe loan and when to do it
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy
🧮 Renovation ROI Calculator
🛠️ Renovation ROI Calculator 💰
Copyright ©2021 | Mortgage Viking Team
Licensed to Do Business | NMLS # 228246
This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates and programs are subject to change without notice. All products are subject to credit and property approval. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. Copyright © 2021 | Medallion Funds
Corporate | NMLS ID NMLS # 1825831
Corporate Address : 2651 N. Green Valley Pkwy STE. 101 Henderson, NV 89014
Corporate NMLS NMLS # 1825831 | Company Website: https://medallionfunds.com/bill-rapp/
Copyright ©2021 | Mortgage Viking Team Licensed to Do Business | NMLS # 228246
This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates and programs are subject to change without notice. All products are subject to credit and property approval. Other restrictions and limitations may apply
Corporate | NMLS ID NMLS # 1825831
Corporate Address : 2651 N. Green Valley Pkwy STE. 101 Henderson, NV 89014 https://medallionfunds.com/bill-rapp/