Credit History 101

– How To Improve Your Credit Score?

Do you know what your credit history and a mortgage have in common? They’re both like lifelong commitments!

Just like a long-term relationship, your credit score plays a major role in whether or not you can secure a mortgage.

Yes, your financial past plays a very crucial role in your home-buying future. So, how do you navigate through this maze of credit reports and mortgage interest rates with ease?

Here, we will understand how credit history works and how you can move towards a better credit score.

Why Is Credit History Important?

Credit history and reports play a vital role, especially in countries like Canada where loans and credit card approvals are based on your credit score.

Credit history keeps a record of your financial history including all credit-related activities like loans, mortgages, credit cards, etc.

This record is used to measure your creditworthiness; when you apply for a loan or mortgage, this credit history is taken into consideration.

This allows the potential lender to understand how you managed your previous loans and whether you are a responsible borrower or not.

What Is A Credit Report?

A Credit Report is a document that has all your credit-related history such as your personal information, credit score, length of credit history, and other financial information.

This report is maintained by credit bureaus and it can be accessed by other financial institutions, employers, and other entities to check your financial background and creditworthiness.

• If you have a good history of credit use, it increases your chances of mortgage and loan approvals.
• Alternatively, if you have a bad credit report, you may have to pay high-interest rates to get approval or you may not even qualify in the first place.

This is why it is highly essential to monitor your credit account so that you have well-maintained creditworthiness.

How Does A Credit Score Work?

A credit score is a numerical presentation to measure your creditworthiness. It ranges from 300 to 900. The higher your credit score, the better creditworthiness you have.

A good credit score in Canada is generally considered to be in the range of 660 to 724. However, different lenders and credit bureaus may have their own criteria for what constitutes a high credit score.

The credit score is calculated based on your history as well as the credit report.

A high score will indicate that you are a low-risk borrower who will pay their debts on time. This increases your chances of credit approval at better interest rates.

You can also opt for debt consolidation so instead of paying for multiple debts you can choose to pay a single interest and principal amount.

For instance,

if you were to apply for an Edmonton Home Buyers Plan Mortgage Financing, you will have to check your credit score too.

An optimal credit score will let you avail of mortgage loans at lower interest rates and more flexibility.

Tips To Improve Your Credit Score

So, how do you go about improving your score? Here are some tips to help you get started –

Pay Your Bills On Time

Your payment history can highly influence your score. So make sure you pay your loan or credit card balances on time.

If you keep making late payments, it can adversely affect your credit score.

Keep Optimal Credit Utilization Rate

Make sure you are only using secured credit cards and always use them wisely.

Since credit cards may give you the liberty of using more than you can actually afford at a particular time, it is easier to get carried away and spend more than what you can pay back.

This can lead to heavy debts and high-interest rates. Plus, in case of non-payment, you may also be limited from using any kind of credit in the future.

Ideally, keep your credit utilization ratio less than 30% because if the ratio is higher, it can lower your score.

Increase Your Credit Limit

With a good payment history, you can request your credit card company to increase your credit limit. The more credit limit you have, the less will be the rate of credit utilization.

Maintain A Strong Credit History

Your credit history will display a list of all your different credit activities.

When you evaluate your credit behaviour regularly, it becomes easier to make better credit decisions.

You can get an idea of all kinds of credit accounts that you have used in the past.

You can also take professional advice on how you can influence your credit rating with a good history.

Check Your Credit Report Regularly

Make sure you check your own credit file from time to time and make sure that you are not maxing out your credit limit. If you don’t keep a look at your credit report, it can increase your credit risk.

Report Errors Immediately

If you think that there is a mistake in your report with any form of credit, make sure you contact the credit reporting agency and get the error rectified.

In case you don’t take immediate action for any wrong information on your credit report, it can lead to a lot of issues when applying for an additional credit card or loan.

Be Careful When Applying For New Credit Card

There are different types of credit options available for individuals and organizations in Canada. However, it is essential to check the credibility of a provider before you apply for credit.

Besides, avoid opening several credit accounts in a short period of time as it can lower your overall credit score.

Start Building A Good Credit Score Today! 

If you have a poor credit score, worry not and start rebuilding your credit report by following these tips.

Also, make sure you are working with a reliable credit card provider so there are no nasty surprises that can affect your score.

And, if you are considering taking a mortgage service Edmonton for your new home in Canada, it is essential to have an excellent credit score to get your mortgage approved at low-interest rates.

Contact us today and pull your credit potential towards getting the best possible mortgage loans.

Don’t go in blind; call me.

Are you ready to buy your home? Reach out to me directly or start your application here: www.sandraforscutt.ca/mortgage-application/