Mortgage credit tips.
A better place to start.
Your score can affect mortgage pricing and conventional mortgage insurance. Learn what’s behind it and what to review before choosing a loan.
Compare rates and lender costsTiming matters for card balances.
Paying down a card before your issuer’s reporting date may lower the utilization shown on your credit reports. That date is often the statement closing date, but issuers differ. Ask when yours reports and allow time for a payment to post.
The balance sent to the credit bureaus can affect the utilization a score sees.
Still pay on time. A payment made after reporting may not appear until a later update.
You don’t need to carry a balance or pay interest to build credit. A score increase is not guaranteed.
Sources: FICO on payment and reporting timing · FICO on carrying a balance
What is credit utilization?
It compares reported revolving balances with the available credit limits. Scoring can consider both individual cards and the total across cards. Lower reported balances may help, but utilization is only one part of your credit profile.
Before taking on new debt, opening an account or closing an old card during a mortgage application, talk with your lender about the possible effect.
Understand the score factors.
- Payment history35%
- Amounts owed30%
- Length of credit history15%
- New credit10%
- Credit mix10%
The score is part of the picture.
Your down payment, income, debts, property and loan program also matter. Conventional PMI pricing can vary with credit score and down payment; FHA mortgage-insurance premiums are not based on credit score.
Your bank-app score may differ.
Base FICO® Scores range from 300 to 850. The score in an app may use a different model or credit-report data than your mortgage lender uses. Ask which score applies before comparing quotes.
Start with your credit reports.
Get free weekly online reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion through AnnualCreditReport.com. Checking your own reports does not affect your score. These reports do not include a credit score.
Review all three reports for errors before you apply. Dispute information you believe is inaccurate with the credit bureau and the company that supplied it.
Sources: Free credit reports · Checking your own report · Reports and scores are different
Sources and important context
This is general education, not a prediction of a score change, loan approval or rate. Your lender determines the score model and program requirements. Sources reviewed October 18, 2026. FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation.
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