What Is Your Credit Score And How To Raise It

Posted August 12, 2010 – 7:16 am in: Mortgages
     

What is your credit score and how to order it. Click Here to order your report

Your score is a numerical rating based on factors that are measured by your willingness to repay loans. The score is calculated from the information that is in your profile which is a record of all your credit activities. This score predicts your credit performance, which means the higher your score, the better credit risk you are.

The FICO score is the most popular credit scoring system developed. You may obtain your FICO score from any of the three main credit reporting agencies Click Here (it is advisable to monitor all three to ensure current and accurate data ): Equifax (800) 685-1111 Experian (888) 397-3742) Trans Union (800) 916-8800

Since your credit score is from your credit history, there must be minimum history to get an accurate score. Before the credit report can be obtained, you must have at least one account that has been open for six months and has current activity within those six months.

Credit history is very important to be eligible to apply for a mortgage loan. If your score is low, there are ways that it can be raised, but not in a short amount of time. It is important to create credit habits that will make sure your credit score stays high at the time that you need it. What are some of the factors that are considered in your credit score?

A credit score in interested in a borrowers willingness to repay the loan. It will predict the likelihood that you will repay that loan based on your credits past performance and current standing. Information like your income or your demographic data are not in your credit profile. It does not measure your ability to pay back a loan, this is done through your debt-to-income ratio.

Your credit report does track both positive and negative activity in your history, such as when you make your payments, your current balances, your length of history and the type of credit you have. The number of inquiries and any legal action taken against you for non payment such as bankruptcy or a lawsuit. Late payments will reduce your credit score, but current history of timely payments will raise it.

Different weights are assigned to the various factors considered. For instance, FICO assigns thirty-five percent of your score to your payment history, thirty percent to your debt level, fifteen percent to the length of time span of your credit history, also fifteen percent to the type of loans such as installment versus revolving, and five percent to your credit score requests, which measure your level of pursuit after new credit.

Your credit score is very important. It is used to consider applications for credit, loans, mortgages, insurance, and even employment. It is very important to maintain a high score and ensure accurate reporting.

How can you raise your score? Raising it is a task that has to be accomplished over time. The credit score is assessed by history. So it is impossible to change you score over a short period of time if you are applying for a loan. Therefore it is important to be aware of positive and negative things that affect your rating so you can improve your score before you need it. You can improve your score a little each year by as much as 50 points by careful management of your credit obligations. You should develop positive habits to promote a good history, (make your payments on time, leave available balances, etc) Monitor all three credit bureaus to make sure they are accurate. Obtain your reports annually by clicking here and make any corrections in writing. Pay all your bills on time, even your utility bills. Negative habits are: don’t max out cards, don’t request your credit reports constantly, don’t take on more credit than you can manage, don’t spend beyond your ability to pay back, don’t quit building your credit because you have a bankruptcy. Continue to work on re-establishing our credit, even if it is a small consumer loan. Many lenders are more concerned about the previous history after a derogatory incident than the previous history. Last of all, don’t leave errors undisputed, request corrections in writing.

You can download your credit reports here Click Here. Unique version for reprint here: What Is Your Credit Score And How To Raise It.

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