How's your FICO Score?

Since our society is so computer-driven, it should come as no surprise that your ability to repay your mortgage loan comes down to a single number. Credit reporting agencies use your history of paying loans to compile this score.

Each of the three credit reporting agencies has its own formula for building your credit score. The original FICO model was developed by Fair Isaac and Company. Experian uses this model and calls its score FICO. Equifax's model, based on FICO, is called BEACON, while TransUnion, which also uses a slightly modified FICO, calls its score EMPIRICA. While each of the models considers a range of data available in your credit report, the differences aren't huge; all of the agencies use the following to calculate a credit score:

• Your Credit History - How many years have you had credit?
• Late Payments - Do you have a history of late payments?
• Balances on your Credit Cards - How many accounts do you have? How much do you owe?
• Credit Inquiries - How many times have lenders pulled your credit report for the purpose of giving you a loan?

Each of these factors is assigned a value and a weight. The result is a single number: your credit score. Credit scores range from 300 to 800. Higher is always better. Most home buyers these days have a score above 620.

Your score affects how much you pay in interest every month

Did you know? Credit scores are used for more than just determining whether or not you qualify for a mortgage. Higher scores indicate you are a better credit risk, and thus may qualify for a better mortgage rate.

Raising your credit score

What can you do to raise your FICO score? Very little in the short term. Despite what you hear from "credit repair" companies, the score is formulated from your lifelong credit history, so you can't turn it around right away. (Of course you can and should appeal incorrect items on your credit report.)

Getting your FICO score

Before you can improve your credit score, you must know your score and ensure that the reports from each reporting agency are correct. Fair Isaac has created a web site (www.myFICO.com) that lets you do just that. It's inexpensive, fast, and easy to get your credit score as well as reports from all three reporting agencies. They also provide helpful information and online tools that can help you analyze what actions might have the greatest impact on your FICO score.

You can get a federally-mandated free credit report once per year from all three agencies by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. While this report does not include a free credit score, the cost to "upgrade" your report to include a credit score is very reasonable.

Now that you have all the facts, you will be a more informed consumer and you'll be better positioned to obtain the right mortgage for you.

Curious about your credit score? Call us: 7072522700.