You don’t need a "perfect" 850 to buy a home, but a higher score usually means a lower interest rate. Over a 30-year mortgage, even a 0.5% difference in your rate can save you tens of thousands of dollars.
Lenders love seeing a large gap between what you can borrow and what you actually owe. Aim to keep your credit card balances below 30% of your total limit. If you have $1,000 in available credit, try to keep your balance under $300. Paying down revolving debt is often the fastest way to see a score increase. 3. Protect Your "Age" credit help for buying a house
When you apply for a new credit card or an auto loan, it triggers a "hard inquiry," which can temporarily dip your score. More importantly, it changes your . Stay in a "credit deep freeze" for at least six months before applying for a mortgage. 5. Consistency is King You don’t need a "perfect" 850 to buy
