Once upon a time you could walk into a bank and get a loan on a handshake and your honor. This was when you actually dealt with a person and were seen as more than a number on a spread sheet. Now it?s all about your FICO score.
Although there are several credit models, the most commonly used is FICO, based on a model created by Fair, Isaac Company. Their consumer website is myfico.com, and you can find information about the FICO credit scores there.
Your FICO credit score can be used to determine your interest rate and how much credit a lender will give you. So taking care of your score, and keeping your credit clean will save you money.
Preserving your FICO score, and improving it, is not difficult, but it may take time. Here are some tips to maintain and improve your score, based on three credit situations.
FIRST: Get a copy of your Credit History
You may not have a history for several reasons. Maybe you pay all your bills with cash, maybe you?re a student, maybe you have never needed a loan for anything. All this will have an effect on your history. Don?t be upset...if you?re like most people you will get a credit history far sooner than later.
The easiest way to raise your score is acquire a loan, and pay it off on time. In general, installment loans are weighted more heavily than credit cards. In other words, you will improve your credit score faster if you buy goods with an installment loan, rather than acquiring a credit card.
Another way to acquire a better credit history is to take $1000 and open a 6 month CD account at a financial institution. Now, get an installment loan for $1000, using that CD as collateral. Now, here's the trick. Take the $1000 loan, and open another 6 month CD account at another institution. Take another loan for the $1000 at the second institution. Do this one more time.
Now what you have is 3 loans. Pay the minimum payment for 6 months. In the last month, cash out your CDs and pay the loans off. You now have a credit history, and did not go into long term debt to get it.
SECOND: Keep your credit history clean.
Ok...now you have a good history. No major debt...now to keep the FICO as high as you can.
Make sure you don't close your old accounts. (Unless of course they charge you a fee of some sort to keep it open.) Part of your credit score is based on the amount of credit available vs. amount used. If you close old accounts you may impact this part of your credit.
Here is a thing to think about. Paying off your credit cards every month is good money management, but you may be able to improve in this area. Here's the scenario: you have a $2000 credit card. Every month, you charge about $1800 to that card. And, every month you pay it off. But here's what happens - your credit card company reports your credit information monthly to FICO. If they report it before you pay off your card, it looks like you carry a balance on your credit card every month. You may find your FICO score improves if you pay off your credit card at a different time of the month.
THIRD: Fix your bad credit
At some point there is a very good chance you will have something that causes your credit rating to drop. Don't panic...poor credit can be fixed. Understand however that the process takes time. In some cases you may need to talk to a credit counselor to assure you address the reasons for the drop as well as remove any future habits that may cause it to drop again.
The FICO score is most affected by your credit history. To repair a low credit score start paying your bills onetime. In order of value you need to pay your Mortgage, Installment loans, and last your credit cards.
The next factor in your FICO score is how you have used your credit. So pay off those credit cards
At the end of all this, make sure you review your credit report. Get one report from all three credit agencies. Read every page. (I know it reads like stereo instructions in Greek) Look at the entries and call and contact the creditors to have them remove any errors.
A good FICO score is a huge part of your financial life. Keep it healthy. Use these tips and watch your score climb.
Doc Schmyz has worked with investors all over the US. He built a free free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state
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