You Credit Score: How's Your FICO?

Since we live in an automated society, it should come as no surprise that your ability to repay your mortgage loan comes down to just one number. Credit reporting agencies use your history of paying loans in order to compile this score.

The three agencies use slightly different formulas to build a credit score. The original FICO score 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 the formulas vary from one agency to another, each agency uses the following to calculate a score:

• Credit History - How long have you had credit?
• History of Payments - Do you have a history of late payments?
• Balances on your Credit Cards - How many credit card accounts do you have, and how much do you owe on them?
• Credit Inquiries - How many times have lenders pulled your credit for the purpose of lending you money?

These factors are assigned weights based on the formula being used. The result is one number. FICO scores range from 300 to 800. Higher is better. Typical home buyers will probably find their scores falling between 620 and 800.

Your credit score greatly 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. Lenders give lower interest rates to individuals with higher scores.

Improving your score

What can you do about 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. You must appeal for the credit agency to remove any incorrect data from your credit report; this is really the only way to quickly improve your credit score.

How do I find out my FICO score?

In order to improve your FICO score, you've got to get the credit reports that are used to build it, and of course, you need the score itself. Fair Isaac, the company that offered the first FICO score, offers credit scores on its website: myFICO.com. For a reasonable fee, you can quickly get your FICO from all three agencies, along with your credit report. They also provide information and tools that help you improve your FICO score.

You can get a federally-mandated free credit report once a year from all three agencies when you visit AnnualCreditReport.com. These reports do not include a free score, but it's very inexpensive to get one at the same time.

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

Curious about credit scores? Call us at 754-202-4376.