How can you improve your credit score?

It's not impossible to change your score in the time between deciding to buy a home or refinance your mortgage and when you apply for the loan. You really can improve your credit score with our Credit Wizard® credit improvment program. The process generally takes a few days and can significantly improve your credit score which will allow you to qualify for better loan programs and better interest rates! We automatically review your credit report for errors and consult with you on how to take care of them.

See the "Get your Credit Report!" tab at the top of this page to get your credit report and start using the Credit Wizard®.

Make sure that the information each of the three credit reporting bureaus have on you is consistent and up to date. Order a copy of your credit report about once a year, and dispute any inaccuracies.

Be careful not to apply for any new credit before and during your mortgage process. In some cases this can have a negative effect on the overall loan program.

Unsolicited credit card solicitations in the mail don't count against your credit report, as long as you do not apply.

Late payments work against you. It's extremely important to pay bills on time, even if it's only the minimum monthly payment.

Don't "max out" your credit lines. Since the size of the balance on your open accounts is a factor, lower balances are better. We suggest keeping your balance at 30-50% of the credit limit. This will put you in the best scoring model.

It's said that by carefully managing your credit, it's possible to add  50 + points per year to your score.