How can you improve your credit score?
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It's virtually impossible to change your score in the time between when most people decide to buy a home or refinance their mortgage and when they apply. But there are strategies you can live with to make sure when you apply for a loan your score is as high as possible.
Make sure that the information the three credit bureaus are reporting is acurate, consistent, and up-to-date. Order a copy of your credit report about once a year, and dispute any inaccuracies. You can do this "free-of-charge" at www.freecreditreport.com
Note: Theoretically, if a series of credit reports is requested on your behalf during a limited amount of time, your score goes down until time passes without any inquiries. Changes in the law have made "consumer-originating" credit report requests not count so much. Also, a series of requests in relation to getting a mortgage or car loan is not treated the same as the number of credit card requests in a limited time. This is because the credit bureaus, and lenders, realize that people request their own credit reports to keep up with what's on them.
Unsolicited credit card solicitations in the mail don't count against your credit report, so don't worry.
The two main components of your credit score are your payment history and the amounts you owe. Bankruptcy filings and foreclosures, which can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years, can significantly lower your score. It's never a good idea to take on more credit than you can handle.
Late payments work against you. It's extremely important to pay bills on time, even if it's only the monthly payment.
Do not "max out" your credit lines. Since the size of the balance on your open accounts is a factor, lower balances are better.
It's said that by carefully managing your credit, it's possible to add as much as 50 points per year to your score.
