Is it possible to buy a home without a credit score? We’re joined by special guest Steve Stewart, podcast editor, who shares how he moved his family to Colorado and secured a mortgage without a traditional credit score. Steve, who hasn’t opened a credit account since 2008, reveals tools and strategies for documenting payment history, navigating homeownership as a single-income household, and overcoming challenges as a self-employed borrower. We also discuss why the credit scoring system prioritizes debt, how professionals with unconventional financial profiles can still secure a mortgage, and how to handle tax reporting, 1099 forms, and business structuring for freelancers and entrepreneurs.

 

Key moments:

 

(05:29) The myth that a credit card is safer than a debit card

(09:19) Strategies to get a mortgage without a traditional credit score or manual underwriting

(21:36) What living without credit means for missing out on card perks

(27:13) Simplifying 1099 income reporting and third-party processor confusion

 

 

Links mentioned: 

 

• eCredable

• Experian Boost

 

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