FICO - Your Credit Score

Because we live in an automated, it's probably not that surprising that your ability to repay your mortgage comes down to one number. Credit reporting agencies use your payment history in order to build this score.

All three major credit agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) use a slightly different system to arrive at a credit score. The original FICO 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, the differences aren't huge; they all use the following factors to build a score:

• Your Credit History - How many years have you had credit?
• History of Payments - Do you have any payments later than 30 days?
• Your Credit Card Balances - How many accounts do you hold, and how much do you owe on them?
• Inquiries on Your Credit - How many times have lenders pulled your credit for the purpose of giving you a loan?

Each of these is assigned a value and a weight. The results are added up and distilled into a single number. Credit scores can be as low as 300 and as high as 800. Higher scores are better. Typical home buyers will likely find their FICO scores between 620 and 800.

Your FICO score affects how much you pay in interest every month

Did you know? FICO 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 to improve your FICO score? Very little in the short term. Some companies promise quick fixes, but they can't do anything different than what you can do — for free. (Of course you can and should appeal incorrect items on your credit report.)

How do I find out my FICO score?

In order to raise your score, you must obtain the reports that are used to build it, and of course, you need the score itself. Fair Isaac has created a web site (www.myFICO.com) that lets you do just that. For a reasonable fee, you can get your FICO from all three agencies, along with your credit report. Also available are information and tools that can help you improve your credit score.

You can get a free credit report every year from all three credit reporting 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'll be a more informed consumer and you'll be better positioned to get the most favorable mortgage.

Curious about your FICO score? Give us a call: 5626935048.