Your score shapes rate, approval odds, and buying power. Sonya works with buyers who need credit score help, especially families getting ready for a first home. Start here before you tour.
Don't close old cards to "clean up"
Closing unused cards can raise your utilization ratio and shorten the average age of your credit history. Both can drop your score. Leave old cards open if there's no annual fee; a small recurring charge you pay off keeps them active.
Don't open new credit right before you apply
A hard inquiry and a brand-new account can nudge you down a tier, enough to cost a better rate. Furniture financing and store cards count. Wait until after closing if you can.
Unused cards can still disappear
Issuers sometimes close dormant accounts. That can hurt length of history the same way closing a card does. Use each card lightly every few months and pay it in full.
Medical and co-signed debt still count
Unpaid medical bills that go to collections, and loans you co-signed for someone else, can show up when a mortgage underwriter looks. Fix errors early; call providers before collectors do.
Pull your free reports
Check all three bureaus at annualcreditreport.com (opens in a new tab). Dispute wrong names, late marks that aren't yours, and balances that don't match. Clean reports close loans faster.
Business cards can hit personal scores
If you have a small business card tied to your name, late payments or new applications can still show on personal credit. Treat them like personal debt while you're mortgage-shopping.