Looking to buy a home in today’s turbulent market? How to improve your odds — and save yourself thousands

The buyer with the higher credit score spends less of their monthly payment on interest, leaving more room to afford a larger home or to keep more cash in their pocket. Over the life of a 30-year mortgage, even that $119 monthly difference adds up to more than $42,000 in savings. And because lenders see higher-score borrowers as less risky, they not only qualify for lower rates but also face reduced fees at closing.That’s a difference of $119 per month, or $1,428 a year, between the top and bottom credit ti ...