5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score

Credit scores range between 200 and 800.  Scores above 620 are considered desirable for obtaining a conventional mortgage.  These factors will affect your score.

1. Your payment history.  Whether you paid credit card obligations on time.

2. How much you owe.  Owing a great deal of money on numerous accounts can indicate that you are overextended.

3. The length of your credit history.  In general, the longer the better.

4. How much new credit you have.  New credit, either installment payments or new credit cards, are considered more risky, even if you pay promptly.

5. The types of credit you use. Generally, it’s desirable to have more than one type of credit—installment loans, credit cards, and a mortgage, for example.

For more information on evaluating and understanding your credit score, go to http://www.myfico.com.

For credit scores below 620 - you may consider an FHA loan.   FHA policy requires a minimum FICO score of 580 for a 3.5 percent down payment. With a credit score between 500 and 580 the down payment must be 10 percent.

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