Before you make any big financial life
changes, it is a good idea to have your credit report in order. Your credit
score can affect everything from the interest rate you get on a home loan or an
auto loan to whether or not you are hired for a job. If find your current
credit score lacking in points, now is the time to put the following five
credit tips into action to improve your financial success. Plus consistently
living by these tips will help you develop better credit responsibility and
habits.
1. Know Your Credit Report
First things first do you even know what your credit report looks like? Do you know what your credit score is right now? A majority of Americans don’t. You can get a free copy of your credit report once a year from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. (You will have to pay a small fee for the actual credit score.) Taking advantage of this free report yearly is a smart idea that will help you to monitor your credit and be aware of the contents. You have to know what your score is before you can decide how to fix it.
Your credit score will be a three-digit
number between 300 and 800. Anything over 720 is considered excellent credit.
Anything below 640 is considered poor credit. The better your score, the better
rates you’ll get on loans and you’ll be more likely to be accepted for jobs and
apartments.
2. Correct Any Errors
Once you have a copy of your credit report, examine it for errors. If there is a legitimate mistake, correcting it with the credit agencies can improve your score by roughly 30 points or more. Look for things like payments reported as being paid later than they were or any collections or judgments, if you find that there inaccurate then contact the creditor for a update or removal request. Be sure to get written confirmation from the creditor stating that it was & error. The reason you should always obtain a letter is in the event you apply for a loan or have your credit pulled at a later date and the discrepancy shows up again, you should have proof of the mistake. After reviewing the credit if you find & inaccurate late payment or anything else that’s & error, you can also write or email the three major credit reporting bureau requesting a correction. The credit bureaus will then investigate the matter with the creditor and if it is inaccurate they will update the credit withing 30 to 60 days.
3. Reduce Your Debts
A big part of your credit score is determined by your debt-to-available credit limit ratio. A good rule of thumb is to keep your account balances at 30 percent or less of your available credit lines. You can do this by paying down your credit cards or store cards with the highest balance first, or if you have to switch some of the balance from one card to less used one. Do not, however, open more credit accounts to spread out the debt balances. That will imply to the bureaus that you are so irresponsible with credit you already have that you need more. This may lower your score.
4. Pay All Your Bills on Time
The biggest portion of your credit score is in fact your history of timely (or untimely) payments. Make sure that you pay ALL of your bills on time. If you need to create some sort of reminder system for yourself, do it! Automatic bill paying by internet is a helpful function as well.
5. Give It Time
Finally, while this is not a very proactive step, it is important. It can often take six months or more to see real improvement in your credit score, so be patient. Try to limit the amount of time creditors pull your credit. A single credit inquiry can cost your credit score between 1-5 points according to the 3 major credit bureaus. Be sure to give yourself at least 6-12 months to repair your credit, before you apply or re-apply for that car loan or home mortgage.
If you are Interested in preparing
yourself or your credit, be sure to read some of our other helpful blogs credit,
real estate or mortgages today.
About the Author:
ZFG
Mortgage headquarter in Tulsa, Oklahoma is the #1 rated mortgage lender in the
state of Oklahoma. At ZFG Mortgage we pride our selves in offering the lowest
mortgage rates at the lowest closing costs. We have & A+ Rated rating with the Better Business
Bureau & have been nominated & won numerous awards like the BBB Torch
awards and the BBB Honor Roll for NO complaints in the last 3 years! If you are
need of a Home loan in Oklahoma, then go with the lender you can trust.
ZFG
Mortgage
6670
Lewis Ave # 200
Tulsa,
OK 74136
Phone:
918-459-6530
Fax:
918-459-6535
Toll
Free: 1-877-205-7266
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