Make Red Rocks Home

Pull your credit report from annualcreditreport.com (free weekly reports!)

Use Credit Karma or Experian to get an idea - but know your lender will use FICO Mortgage Scores.

Non-negotiable! Payment history = 35% of your credit score.

Even one 30-day late payment can hurt - use auto-pay or calendar reminders.

Keep balances under 30% of your limit (under 10% is even better!).

Tackle high-usage cards first, then move to the next highest and so on and so forth.

New accounts can temporarily ding your score.

Closing old ones can hurt your history and utilization - pay them down and set them aside.

No big purchases (cars, furniture, loans) while prepping to buy.

Lenders might re-check credit right before closing, so resist the urge - it'll be worth it.

Look for incorrect balances or accounts that aren’t yours.

Dispute errors directly with the credit bureaus - do this as early as possible, it takes time.

Older credit = better credit... it ages well!

Keep them active with small purchases and regular payments. Maybe use one for gas, one for groceries, etc.

If needed, a parent or partner with good credit can help by adding you to their card.

Just make sure the account is in great standing and you're set!