• Home
• Refinance Rates
  • Refinance Basics
  • Loan Options
  • Calculators
  • Loan Process
  • Contact a Mortgage Manager
• Home Purchase
  • Purchase Basics
  • Loan Options
  • Rates
  • Calculators
  • Loan Process
  • Contact a Mortgage Manager
• Home Equity
  • Home Equity Line of Credit
  • Fixed Rate Second Mortgage
  • Rates
  • Contact a Mortgage Manager
• Apply Now
  • Apply Online
  • Mortgage Calculators
  • Contact a Mortgage Manager
• Mortgage Tools
• Calculators
• Mortgage Glossary
• Resources
• Credit
• Pre-Qualify
• Contact a Mortgage Manager

How Can You Improve Your Credit?

It's virtually 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. So the short answer is, you really can't "on the spot." But there are 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 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 long as 10 years, can significantly lower your score. It's never a good idea to take on more credit than you can handle.

Late payments work against you. It's extremely important to pay bills on time, even if it's only the monthly payment. Don't "max out" your credit lines. Since the size of the balance on your open accounts is a factor, lower balances are better.

It's said that by carefully managing your credit, it's possible to add as much as 50 points per year to your score.

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Primary Phone

- -

Loan Purpose

Home Refinance Refinance with Cash Out Debt Consolidation Home Equity Line of Credit Unsure/Other

Current Home Value

0 1-10,000 10,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 40,000 40,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 60,000 60,001 - 70,000 70,001 - 80,000 80,001 - 90,000 90,001 - 100,000 100,001 - 110,000 110,001 - 120,000 120,001 - 130,000 130,001 - 140,000 140,001 - 150,000 150,001 - 160,000 160,001 - 170,000 170,001 - 180,000 180,001 - 190,000 190,001 - 200,000 200,001 - 210,000 210,001 - 220,000 220,001 - 230,000 230,001 - 240,000 240,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 260,000 260,001 - 270,000 270,001 - 280,000 280,001 - 290,000 290,001 - 300,000 300,001 - 310,000 310,001 - 320,000 320,001 - 330,000 330,001 - 340,000 340,001 - 350,000 350,001 - 360,000 360,001 - 370,000 370,001 - 380,000 380,001 - 390,000 390,001 - 400,000 400,001 - 420,000 420,001 - 440,000 440,001 - 460,000 460,001 - 480,000 480,001 - 500,000 500,001 - 520,000 520,001 - 540,000 540,001 - 560,000 560,001 - 580,000 580,001 - 600,000 600,001 - 620,000 620,001 - 640,000 640,001 - 660,000 660,001 - 680,000 680,001 - 700,000 700,001 - 720,000 720,001 - 740,000 740,001 - 760,000 760,001 - 780,000 780,001 - 800,000 800,001 - 820,000 820,001 - 840,000 840,001 - 860,000 860,001 - 880,000 880,001 - 900,000 900,001 - 920,000 920,001 - 940,000 940,001 - 960,000 960,001 - 980,000 980,001 - 1,000,000 1,000,000+ 1,500,000+ 2,000,000+

My Mortgage Balance

0 1-10,000 10,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 40,000 40,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 60,000 60,001 - 70,000 70,001 - 80,000 80,001 - 90,000 90,001 - 100,000 100,001 - 110,000 110,001 - 120,000 120,001 - 130,000 130,001 - 140,000 140,001 - 150,000 150,001 - 160,000 160,001 - 170,000 170,001 - 180,000 180,001 - 190,000 190,001 - 200,000 200,001 - 210,000 210,001 - 220,000 220,001 - 230,000 230,001 - 240,000 240,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 260,000 260,001 - 270,000 270,001 - 280,000 280,001 - 290,000 290,001 - 300,000 300,001 - 310,000 310,001 - 320,000 320,001 - 330,000 330,001 - 340,000 340,001 - 350,000 350,001 - 360,000 360,001 - 370,000 370,001 - 380,000 380,001 - 390,000 390,001 - 400,000 400,001 - 420,000 420,001 - 440,000 440,001 - 460,000 460,001 - 480,000 480,001 - 500,000 500,001 - 520,000 520,001 - 540,000 540,001 - 560,000 560,001 - 580,000 580,001 - 600,000 600,001 - 620,000 620,001 - 640,000 640,001 - 660,000 660,001 - 680,000 680,001 - 700,000 700,001 - 720,000 720,001 - 740,000 740,001 - 760,000 760,001 - 780,000 780,001 - 800,000 800,001 - 820,000 820,001 - 840,000 840,001 - 860,000 860,001 - 880,000 880,001 - 900,000 900,001 - 920,000 920,001 - 940,000 940,001 - 960,000 960,001 - 980,000 980,001 - 1,000,000 1,000,000+ 1,500,000+ 2,000,000+

Additional Cash Needed

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Licenses and Registrations
Equal Housing Lenders. © 2008 BrightPath Mortgage, LLC. Trade/service marks are the property of BrightPath Mortgage. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. 888-222-6003