Improve Your Credit.
Improve Your Homebuying Options.
Even a small credit score improvement can change your interest rate, down payment options, monthly payment, and confidence. This guide will help you understand what matters most and what steps to take next.
Free guide · Educational only · No credit check required
5 Steps
Actionable credit improvement
11 Myths
Common misconceptions busted
Free
Calculator and action plan
How To Repair and Strengthen Your Credit Before Buying A Home
This video walks through five practical steps to improve your credit and eleven common credit myths that keep buyers from moving forward.
Why Credit Matters
Credit affects more than whether you qualify. It can change your entire homebuying picture.
Here's a real example using a $400,000 home purchase:
Higher Credit Score
Lower Credit Score
+$254/mo vs. higher score
Lower Score + Larger Down Payment
+$26,000 extra down
Monthly is still higher
Why this matters:
A better credit score can mean a lower rate — saving hundreds per month and tens of thousands over the life of the loan. Even when you compensate with a larger down payment, the monthly payment can still be higher. Credit improvement is often the most cost-effective path.
Credit Impact Calculator
See how even a small rate change — from better credit — adds up over time.
Loan Amount: $386,000
Monthly Difference
$254
Annual Cost
$3,046
5-Year Cost
$15,228
10-Year Cost
$30,456
Over the Life of the Loan
$91,369
Even a small credit score improvement may save thousands over time.
The 5 Credit Improvement Steps
A practical action plan — start here and work through each step.
Credit Action Plan Builder
Answer a few questions to get a custom action plan for your situation.
What best describes your current credit score range?
Any collections on your report?
Are your credit card balances above 30% of the limit?
Any late payments in the last 12 months?
Any bankruptcy or foreclosure in your history?
Do you have active positive credit lines?
Answer all questions to see your action plan.
11 Credit Myths
Common beliefs that keep buyers stuck — and what's actually true.
Opting out of prescreened offers boosts your score.
It may reduce junk mail, but it does not directly raise your score.
Checking your own credit hurts your score.
Soft inquiries — including checking your own credit — do not hurt your score.
Paying a collection automatically removes it.
It may still show as paid unless removed or deleted. Pay-for-delete is the preferred approach.
Carrying a balance helps your score.
You do not need to pay interest to build credit. Paying in full each month is ideal.
Closing old accounts helps.
It may hurt by reducing credit history length and increasing your overall utilization.
You have to use credit cards all the time.
Occasional small use may be enough to keep accounts active and reporting.
Shopping for a mortgage ruins your credit.
Mortgage inquiries within a shopping window — typically 14–45 days — are generally treated as one.
Opening lots of credit cards always helps.
Too many new accounts can hurt in the short term by lowering average account age.
Only on-time payments matter.
Payment history matters most, but utilization, credit age, credit mix, and inquiries also matter.
After bankruptcy or bad credit, avoid credit completely.
You usually need new positive credit history to rebuild. Avoiding credit entirely can stall recovery.
You must pay a credit repair company.
Many important steps can be done yourself for free — disputing errors, paying down balances, and negotiating collections.
What Not to Do Before Applying
Avoid these common mistakes while you prepare.
Do not open unnecessary accounts
Do not max out credit cards
Do not close old cards
Do not miss payments
Do not make random disputes without a plan
Do not assume one denial means you cannot buy
Ask Mia About Credit and Homebuying
Honest answers to real questions — no jargon, no pressure.
Related Resources
More tools and guides to help you prepare.