The bar has been raised with respect to the three-digit number lenders use to determine your worthiness to borrow money.
"Three years ago, a creditworthy borrower was someone with a 680 to 700 score. Now, to get the best rates, that score needs to be 760 and up," says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com. Your three-digit credit score generally ranges from 300 to 850. The higher your score, the better credit risk lenders deduce you are.
The sobering news is that 60 percent of all Americans have a score below 750, according to data compiled by Minneapolis-based Fair Isaac Corp., which runs the FICO scoring system most lenders rely on.
Why should you care about your credit score? Lenders use it to determine your interest rate and whether they should lend you money. Many insurers use it to set the size of premium you pay on auto and home insurance. Landlords may use it when deciding whether or not to rent to you, and some employers review it when deciding to hire you.
Fortunately, you can improve your score and have an easier time getting credit by following these six strategies.
1. Review your credit report. One of the biggest factors lowering your score could be a mistake on your credit report, including outdated data, paid-off loans listed as due, and money owed by relatives or strangers with names similar to yours.
You can stay on top of your information by going to AnnualCreditReport.com every 12months to request a free credit report from each of the major three reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Your credit score isn't included in the report. You'll have to pay the agencies around $15 for it.
For unlimited access to both your credit report and score throughout the year, consider signing up for CreditCheck Monitoring offered through USAA.
If you have disputes about your report, you'll need to work with the individual credit agencies. Be prepared: Errors could take up to six months to get fixed.
2. Stabilize your credit. "If you know you're going to buy a new car or be in the market for a home in three to six months, don't open new accounts, close accounts, or transfer balances," advises Maxine Sweet, vice president of public education for Experian.
Also, stop applying for credit cards you don't really need. For example, say no when a department store offers you 10 percent off the purchase if you open a new credit card account. You can be docked ten points just for applying for a store credit card.
3. Use the credit you have. "Your credit history is your credit reference when you go for a loan. You need to show that you know how to manage credit by paying balances and making payments on time," advises Sweet.
4. Get a handle on your bills.
- Never miss a payment or due date. "That's the ultimate rule,"says Sweet. All it takes is one late payment to crush your score and make lenders wary.
- If you're 30 days late with a payment and your creditor reports that delinquency to one of the big three credit bureaus, your score can dive about 100 points.
- Trim your credit card debt to below 30 percent of the available credit limit from your lender. If possible, eliminate credit card debt entirely. Always pay at least the minimum amount due, preferably more.
5. Don't cosign for a credit card or other consumer loan. When you cosign, that debt is also considered your debt. If the borrower misses payments, it will be reflected in your score.
6. Save. To get the best loan for a house or car, you'll probably need a sizable savings for a down payment, which can be as much as 20 percent in some cases. For most home loans, lenders are eyeing an overall debt (including total mortgage and housing costs, recurring monthly car and college loans) to gross income ratio that falls at or below 36 percent.
For more information about improving your credit score, visit Military.com's Credit and Debt Center.
