How can you improve your credit score?

It's not 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...or even after they apply for that matter. Credit scores can be manipulated, in a legitimate way, in a very short period of time - as little as 3 weeks.

That is why it is important to talk with a mortgage professional who understands what is causing your scores to be so low. We have found most people are just uneducated about credit and make simple mistakes. We can show you the 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 each of the three credit reporting bureaus has on you is consistent and up to date. Order a copy of your credit report about once a year, and dispute any inaccuracies.

Note: Theoretically, if a series of credit reports is requested on your behalf (basically you apply to numerous companies for credit...usually credit cards) during a limited amount of time, your score goes down until time passes without any inquiries. Changes in the law though 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 a 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, and smart consumers shop around for the best mortgage and car loans.

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 as many as 10 years, can significantly lower your score. Late payments work against you. It's extremely important to pay bills on time, even if it's only the monthly payment.

Dont "max out" your credit lines. Since the size of the balance on your open accounts is a factor, the closer your balance gets to the line limite of the card the lower yourscores are. Lower balances are better. If you are going to carry a balance, try to maintain around 30% of the limit of the card.

It's said that by carefully managing your credit, it's possible to add as much as 50 points per year to your score. Well, we have improved scores by 100 points in as little as 60 days.

It's never a good idea to take on more credit than you can handle.