A main component of purchasing a home and qualifying for a mortgage is your credit score: a 3-digit number (ranging from 300 to 850) which rates how likely you are to repay your debts.
Checking your credit history with the three main credit bureaus to make sure all accounts and claims are correct helps to make sure your credit score is accurate and that you can qualify for the best loan products available to you.
Where to Find Your Credit Report
You are able to get a FREE credit report once a year, no payment needed. Because these annual reports are free once a year, you will not need to enter your card information to access them.
You can request your free report multiple ways, including:
- Online by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com
- By calling 1-877-322-8228 (TTY: 1-800-821-7232)
- By filling out the Annual Credit Report request form and mailing it to:
- Annual Credit Report Request Service
PO Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Reviewing Your Report
When you get your report, check for any activity that isn’t your own, from a new credit line request to ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ pulls on your credit report. These can be signs of someone using your information to open a new line of credit.
If you notice any activity that is not correct, report it to the credit bureau as soon as possible. Removing incorrect information from your credit report can help boost your score by removing potentially negative factors that were used in calculating your score.
Credit Freezes
If you don’t plan to take any loans out in the next six months, you can also ‘freeze’ your credit so no news lines can be taken out in your name. This service is FREE. You’re able to remove this at any time, either temporarily or permanently.
