James V. Hecker

Santa Clarita California

  • About
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Site Security
  • Mortgage Info
    • Buyer Info
    • Seller Info
    • Closing Costs
    • Home Appraisal
    • Home Inspection
    • Loan Checklist
    • Loan Process
    • Loan Programs
    • Mortgage FAQ
    • Mortgage Calculators
    • Mortgage Glossary
  • Properties
    • All Properties
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

5 Steps Towards a Better Credit Score You Can Take Today

March 23, 2016 by James Hecker

5 Steps Towards a Better Credit Score You Can Take TodayWhen it comes to finding the best mortgage, your credit score is a major determinant as to the kinds of rates and conditions you can get. Lenders quite understandably want to manage their risk. But for a number of potential homeowners, these practices and policies can be a barrier to home ownership.

The good news? If your credit score isn’t great, you can easily improve it and get better lending terms. Here are five steps you can take right now to give your credit a boost.

Get Your Annual Credit Report And Dispute Errors

Simply disputing errors on your credit report is one of the easiest ways to give your score a boost. The FTC says that 1 in every 5 Americans has errors on their credit report that have an impact on their score. By simply disputing errors on your credit report, you can give your score a small boost almost overnight.

Miss A Few Payments? Talk To Your Lender

If you’ve missed a payment and it’s more than 30 days past due, chances are your lender has already reported the missed payment. Once a missed payment is on your credit report, the fastest way to remove it is to talk to your lender. Get a written and signed agreement that if you pay the overdue balance, they’ll report the account as “paid in full.”

Ask For A Credit Increase

Your credit utilization ratio – the amount of credit you’ve used compared to the total amount available to you – makes up 30% of your FICO score. In general, experts say that using more than 30% of your available credit can harm your score. If you can’t immediately pay down your debt below that 30% threshold, one great way to improve your credit utilization ratio is to ask for a credit limit increase.

Get A Co-Signer To Help

Having someone with good credit co-sign your lending agreement is a great way to improve your credit. When you get a co-signer for your credit card or car loan, the better quality credit line may help boost your score. Just make sure you stay on top of payments – otherwise both you and the co-signer will see your credit scores fall.

Keep Good Debts On Your Report

While it is important to review your credit report and have any negative items removed, you’ll want to ensure that any positive entries – debts you’ve paid in full – stay on the report. When your credit report shows debts as paid in full, your score increases because it shows that you’re a responsible borrower.

Improving your credit score doesn’t have to take years. These five strategies can help you to boost your credit and qualify for better mortgage loan terms. Contact your local mortgage professional to learn more.

Filed Under: Home Mortgage Tips Tagged With: Credit Score, Home Mortgage Tips, Mortgage Tips

James Hecker

Contact James

Focus Lending Group, Inc.
BRE #00902195 • NMLS #214601
CALL 661.295.7030
FAX: 661.244.4932
james@james4loans.com


APPLY WITH JAMES →

Connect with Me!

Search articles

Rate Quote

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Latest Articles

  • ITIN Loans: Are These Loans Right For You?
  • Why Your Kitchen Features Matter
  • What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – February 6, 2023
  • 3 Tips To Consider When Buying A Home With An FHA Mortgage
  • S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices: Home Prices Fall In November

Previous Posts

Categories

Our Location


27201 Tourney Rd. Ste 200
Valencia, CA 91355

Copyright © 2023 · Powered by MySMARTblog