2.
GIVE
THEM WHAT THEY WANT: Pay at least the minimum amount required. You can
always pay more, but you should never pay less.
3.
HOW
LOW CAN YOU GO: Keep credit card balances low. Don't "max out" your
credit cards.
4.
SAVE
YOURSELF: Don't apply for too many loans or new accounts. Lenders will be
concerned that you won't manage your debt well if you are requesting a lot
of credit in a short time span.
5.
GET
ESTABLISHED: Establish credit if you have none. Apply for one or two
credit cards. Use the cards carefully and pay off the entire balance each
month
6.
PLAN AHEAD:
8.
THINK BACK: The last two years
count most. Your credit score looks most closely at the last two years.
9.
THINK
FURTHER BACK: But the last seven count too! Your credit tracks your
payment history over the last seven years.
10.
TIME
IS OF THE ESSENCE: Shop for a mortgage within a two or three- week
period. When you apply for a mortgage, the lender requests your credit
report and an inquiry of that request shows up on the report. All
inquiries during a two-week period only show as one inquiry. A couple of
inquiries on your credit report are okay, but more can lower your credit
score.
11.
BE
RESERVED: Don't apply for new credit or make major purchases, such as a
new car, large appliances or electronics, right before you apply for a
mortgage.
12.
ASK
FOR HELP: Call your lender for advice if you believe you have credit
problems.
13.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT: Don't be discouraged
if you have credit problems. You don't need perfect credit to qualify for
a mortgage; however, people with perfect credit tend to get better
interest rates than people with less-than-perfect credit. Beware of
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