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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To improve your credit before a mortgage application, check your credit reports early, correct genuine errors, pay every bill on time, and reduce credit-card balances where you can. Avoid unnecessary new credit as you approach applying. These steps can help, but no action guarantees a particular score, rate, or approval.
Start with your credit reports, not just one score
A credit report is the record of your credit accounts and payment history; a credit score is a calculation based on information in a report. You can have multiple scores, and they may differ by credit bureau, scoring model, loan product, and calculation date. A score displayed by an app may not be the score a mortgage lender uses.
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Lenders commonly consider credit reports and scores, but credit is only part of the decision. Debt, savings, assets, income, the loan type, and the lender also matter. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) explains these factors in its guide to understanding credit scores.
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Review the reports available from each credit bureau before you begin serious home shopping. Checking your own report or score does not hurt your credit. As the CFPB puts it: “When you check your own credit — whether you’re looking at your credit report or credit scores — the credit reporting companies don’t treat it the same as a lender making an inquiry.” See what happens when a mortgage lender checks your credit.
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Look for accounts you do not recognize, incorrect late payments or account statuses, duplicate entries, and errors in your personal information. If you find a mistake, dispute it with the credit bureau and the company that supplied the information, and include copies of documents supporting your claim. The CFPB describes this process in its credit-report error dispute guide. Accurate negative information is not an error simply because it hurts your score.
Build the habits that can support your score
Pay bills on time
Payment history is an important scoring factor. Pay every bill by its due date; if you have fallen behind, bring the account current if possible and keep future payments on time. The CFPB identifies on-time bill payments as a key step in getting and keeping a good credit score. A past late payment may not disappear immediately, so avoid assuming that catching up will produce a particular score increase.
Reduce revolving balances where feasible
Credit-card balances relative to their limits can affect scores. The CFPB says experts advise keeping credit use at no more than 30% of total credit limits. Treat that as general guidance, not a guaranteed ideal, lender rule, or promise of a mortgage-score improvement. Paying balances down as much as your budget allows may help; do not take on expensive debt or jeopardize cash needed for the home purchase just to meet a percentage.
Be cautious about new credit and account closures
Avoid opening several accounts, applying for a new auto loan, or making large credit purchases shortly before a mortgage application if you can. New applications and debt can complicate your credit picture. Do not automatically close unused cards: the CFPB notes that closing a card can hurt in some circumstances and advises against closing unused cards unless they carry an annual fee. Its credit-score improvement guidance discusses these trade-offs.
Allow time, but do not count on a fixed score gain
The CFPB says borrowers who do not plan to buy for at least six months might have time to improve their scores and potentially get a better rate. That is an opportunity to work on report accuracy and financial habits, not a prediction of how many points any individual will gain. Score changes depend on the person’s credit history and the scoring model.
If you are deciding whether to apply now or wait, consider your actual loan options, report accuracy, debts, savings, income, and home-buying timeline alongside your scores. If you are unsure where to start, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency may help you review your credit and consider options, particularly if you have a low or no score. The CFPB’s credit-score guidance points borrowers to housing counseling resources.
Understand mortgage score ranges without treating them as cutoffs
For broad context, the CFPB says the lowest mortgage rates generally go to borrowers with scores in the mid-to-high 700s or above, while borrowers below 620 generally have trouble qualifying. These are not universal underwriting thresholds: loan type and lender affect rates and eligibility, and a lender evaluates more than a score. A borrower should get actual offers rather than infer approval or pricing from a single score.
Shop mortgage offers without avoiding necessary inquiries
Applying for a mortgage normally involves a credit check. Under the CFPB’s guidance, multiple mortgage credit checks within a 45-day window are recorded on the credit report as a single inquiry. This is general guidance, not a guarantee that every scoring model or circumstance treats inquiries identically. Avoid unrelated credit applications during the same period where practical.
Compare at least three written offers. Look beyond the interest rate to the loan term, down payment assumptions, monthly payment, points, fees, adjustable-rate payment changes, and total costs over time. The CFPB explains how to compare mortgage offers. Rate shopping is worthwhile; do not skip it solely out of fear of mortgage inquiries.
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