- HOW YOU PAY YOUR BILLS (35%)
How have you paid your bills in the past? Past due payments hurt your score the most and an account in collections is event worse. Declaring bankruptcy is the worst.
- YOUR DEBT AND YOUR AVAILABLE CREDIT (30%)
How much money do you have outstanding? This includes unsecured and secured loans like mortgages, car loans, credit cards, student loans, etc. Also pay attention to the amount of available credit you have, the more the better.
- LENGTH OF CREDIT HISTORY (15%)
How long have you had open credit lines? This will affect your score and how lenders will determine if you are responsible enough for the loan.
- MIX OF CREDIT (10%)
Be sure to have a mix of revolving and installment credit. An example of revolving is credit cards while installment credit would be your mortgage.
- NEW CREDIT APPLICATIONS (10%)
Slow down with the credit apps. Every time you sign up for a credit card or file for a loan you are having someone check on your credit. Too many credit checks looks bad.