Fixing Your Credit Score
January 10, 2023
To start improving your credit score, it helps to know what goes into making it. The factors that affect your score are:
- Timely payments: 35%
- Overall debt: 30%
- Length of credit: 15%
- New credit applications: 10%
- Types of credit: 10%
Know Your Score
You need to know what your score is if you want to get started on improving it for a home loan. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, individuals have the right to their own credit report, which is available from a credit bureau. You can request your report from these bureaus, the top three of which are Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Once you have your report, you can review it and dispute any discrepancies. The bureaus are responsible for investigating any disputes within 30 days.
Don’t Let Your Balance Go Past-Due
The most important factor that makes up your credit score is your payment history. 35% of your credit report depends on whether or not you make payments on time. The later you are on those payments, the worse it is for your credit report. Always try to pay off your credit balances in full. Not only does this keep you from incurring large interest payments, but having a “paid in full” remark on your credit report looks good to lenders considering you for a loan.
Building a Credit History from Scratch
Many first-time homebuyers run into the problem of not having a sufficient credit history. This can affect the 15% of your score that depends on age of credit. Establishing credit history can start with signing up for a credit card and using it to pay for everyday items. It also helps to set up utility payments through your credit card online. Just remember to pay off the balance on time!
Be Proactive About Opening New Lines of Credit
When applying for a loan or credit card, your bank or lender performs a “hard inquiry.” This is a review of your credit that in turn affects your score. If you submit multiple credit applications in a short timeframe, it shows up as a red flag for lenders. They might assume that you aren’t handling your finances well enough if you need multiple lines of credit open at once. It’s important that you don’t submit credit applications close to the time that you apply for a home loan.
Remember that your credit score represents your creditworthiness. Based on this number, a lender determines whether you are a high-risk borrower and if it’s a smart idea to loan you a huge amount of money. It also determines the interest rate you’ll receive from the lender, so it is worth your time to work on increasing your score.
------------------------------
RELATED VIDEOS:
Learn How to Meet FHA Requirements
A Few Tips About Your Fixed Rate Mortgage
Your Proof of Ownership Is the Property Title
FHA Loan Articles
June 30, 2026FHA loans offer low down payment options and more forgiving credit requirements for borrowers who may not qualify for a conventional mortgage or need to save more money out of pocket at the front end of the mortgage. But even with more forgiving credit requirements, some borrowers are tempted to omit certain debt information from their home loan applications. What does it mean to conceal a debt or financial situation from your loan officer?
June 30, 2026Some borrowers start working on their credit scores but get impatient with the process because they can't predict when their efforts will change their FICO scores. How long does it take for your FICO scores to update when you pay off a loan, reduce your credit card balances, or take other steps to make yourself a better credit risk? The short answer is that credit reporting procedures are not standardized, and it may take more time than you realize to get those positive credit actions added to your credit report.
June 29, 2026Mortgage interest rates are "moving targets" shaped by national economic trends and the borrower's specific financial profile. What is your FHA loan interest rate? Much depends on the financial data you bring to the table. Lenders set interest rates daily based on a snapshot of market conditions, but the rate ultimately offered also reflects risk, equity, and the lending institution's internal operational costs.
June 28, 2026An FHA appraisal differs from a conventional appraisal. While the goal of a conventional appraisal centers on market value, the FHA appraisal also focuses on the buyer's safety and soundness. FHA lenders select the appraiser, not the home buyer.
June 24, 2026FHA loan closing costs vary by property price and geographic location, rather than by a single nationwide flat fee. Total settlement charges combine percentage-based fees, local government taxes, and marketplace service costs. If you are new to buying a home, you'll want to get familiar with the closing cost issues discussed here to avoid budgetary surprises later on.
