About the FICO Credit Score

Because our society is so automated, it should come as no surprise that your ability to repay virtually any loan comes down to one number. The years of paying your various bills: your mortgage, vehicle payments, and credit card bills can be analyzed, sliced, spindled and mutilated into a single indicator of whether you're likely to meet your future obligations.

Each of the three credit agencies has its own formula for building your credit score. The original FICO model was developed by Fair Isaac and Company. While Experian still calls its score "FICO", TransUnion calls its score "Beacon" and Equifax uses "Empirica." While each of the models considers a range of data available in your credit report, the differences aren't huge; each agency uses the following in calculating your credit score:

• Your Credit History - How long have you had credit?
• History of Payments - Do you have any payments later than 30 days?
• Credit Card Balances - How many credit card accounts do you have, and how much do you owe?
• Credit Inquiries - How many times have lenders pulled your credit for the purpose of lending you money?

These factors are weighted slightly differently depending on the formula being used. Each formula produces a single number which varies slightly by agency. Credit scores range from 300 to 800. Higher is always better. Typical home buyers will probably find their scores between 620 and 800.

Not just for qualifying

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

Is it possible to improve your credit score? Some companies promise quick fixes, but they can't do anything different than what you can do — for free. You should appeal for the credit agency to remove any incorrect reporting on your credit report; this is the only way to quickly improve your credit score.

Getting your FICO score

In order to raise your credit score, you've got to get the credit reports that the agencies use to build it. Of course, you need the score as well. 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 along with reports from all three reporting agencies. They also provide information and online tools that can help you improve your credit score.

You can get a free credit report once a year from all three credit reporting 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.

Armed with this info, you'll be a more informed consumer and you'll be better positioned to obtain the right mortgage for you.

Curious about credit scores? Call us: (707) 252-2700.