Your credit score is one of the biggest drivers of your mortgage options, but improving it is easier than most people realize. January is the perfect time for a “Credit Cleanup Challenge” that can boost your score long before you apply.
Start by pulling your no-cost credit report. You’re looking for:
✔ Mistakes
✔ Duplicate accounts
✔ Old collections
✔ Accounts you forgot about
✔ High balances that can be paid down
Most people have at least one item hurting their score that can be fixed quickly.
Next, automate your payments. Set every bill, big or small, to autopay. Payment history is 35% of your credit score, so this single move can protect you from accidental dips.
Finally, focus on paying down revolving balances. The sweet spot is keeping credit cards under 30% of their limit… but under 10% is even better. You don’t need to pay off everything, just lower the ratio.
Action Item:
After you pull your report, highlight ONE thing you can improve this week. Snap me a photo or send me a message, and I’ll help you interpret it.
Questions about any of this? Feel free to reach out to me today.
