Scoring your Credit - How's your FICO?

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Because our society is so automated, it's probably not that surprising that your creditworthiness comes down to a single number. The FICO score is compiled by credit reporting agencies. They use the payment history from all of your loans: mortgages, car/motorcycle loans, credit cards, and the like.

The three reporting agencies use slightly different formulas to build a credit score. Fair Isaac and Cooriginally developed this score. 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 each of the models considers a range of data available in your credit report, the differences aren't huge; all of the agencies use the following factors to build your score:

• Credit History - Have you had credit for years, or for just a short time?
• History of Payments - Do you have a history of late payments?
• Credit Card Balances - How many credit card accounts do you have, and how much do you owe on them?
• Credit Inquiries - How many times have you had your credit checked for a loan?

These factors are assigned weights based on the formula being used. Each formula produces a single number which may vary slightly by agency. FICO scores range from 300 to 850. Higher scores are better. Most home buyers have a score above 620.

Your credit score greatly 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

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot you can do to immediately improve your credit score. Some companies promise quick fixes, but they can't do anything different than what you can do — for free. You should remove any incorrect data on your credit report; this is really the only "quick fix" for credit problems.

How do I find out my credit score?

To raise your score, you must have the credit reports that the agencies use to build it. Of course, you need the score as well. Fair Isaac, the corporation that invented the first FICO credit score, sells scores on myFICO.com. It's inexpensive, fast, and easy to get your credit score as well as credit reports from all three agencies. They also provide information and online tools that can help you analyze what actions might have the greatest impact on your FICO score.

You can get a federally-mandated free credit report every year from all three agencies by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. These reports do not include a free credit 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.