Buying a home isn’t just about finding the right property. It’s about getting approved with terms that don’t punish you for years. And whether you’re a W-2 employee, self-employed, or working in an industry where income fluctuates, your credit score is one of the biggest levers you can control before you apply for a mortgage.

Here’s the good news: you usually don’t need a perfect score. You need a strong, clean profile that shows you handle credit responsibly. And in many cases, you can make meaningful improvements faster than you think, if you focus on the right things.

Below is a clear, step-by-step guide to improving your credit score before applying for a mortgage, plus the habits that help you keep it strong long after you close.

Why Your Credit Score Matters So Much for a Mortgage

Your credit score tells a lender one main thing: how risky it is to lend you money.

A higher score can help you qualify for:

• Better interest rates
• Lower monthly payments
• More flexible loan options
• Lower mortgage insurance costs (depending on the loan type)
• A smoother approval process overall

Even a small improvement in interest rate can mean big savings over time. That’s why credit prep is worth taking seriously, especially in high-cost markets where every monthly dollar matters.

What Makes Up Your Credit Score

A credit score isn’t a mystery, it’s a weighted system. The main factors are:

Payment history

This is the biggest driver. Late payments, collections, and missed payments can cause major damage.

Credit utilization

This is how much of your available revolving credit you’re using (mainly credit cards). Utilization is one of the fastest ways to move a score up or down.

Length of credit history

Older accounts help. Closing old cards can sometimes hurt because it shortens your average age of accounts.

New credit

Every time you apply for new credit, a hard inquiry may slightly lower your score. A lot of inquiries in a short period can raise red flags.

Credit mix

Having a healthy blend of accounts (credit cards, auto loans, student loans, etc.) can help, but it’s not worth opening accounts just to “add variety.”

Before you start making changes, pull your credit report and make sure you’re working with accurate information.

Step One: Check Your Credit Reports (Not Just Your Score)

Your score is the result. Your report is the reason.

Start by reviewing your reports from all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). You’re looking for:

• Late payments you don’t recognize
• Accounts that aren’t yours
• Duplicate collections
• Incorrect balances
• Closed accounts showing as open
• Wrong personal information (name variations, addresses)

If you find something inaccurate, dispute it right away. Errors are more common than people realize, and fixing them can sometimes lead to a noticeable improvement.

The Fastest Ways to Improve Your Credit Score Before a Mortgage

Not every credit tip is useful when you’re prepping for a mortgage. These are the moves that tend to create the biggest impact in the shortest time.

1) Pay down credit cards (focus on utilization first)

If you only do one thing, do this.

Credit card balances affect your utilization, and utilization can move your score fast. Most people know the “keep it under 30%” guideline, but if you’re mortgage prepping, you often want it lower than that.

A strong target is:

• Under 30% overall utilization (minimum standard)
• Under 10% overall utilization (ideal, if possible)
• Low or zero balances on individual cards when your statement closes

Important: paying down cards doesn’t mean you have to carry zero debt forever. It means you want the balances that get reported to be low.

Simple strategy:
Make an extra payment before your statement date so the balance reported is lower, even if you use the card regularly.

2) Make payments more frequently (timing matters)

Many people pay their credit card once a month and assume it’s fine. But your credit report often reflects the balance at the time the statement closes, not after you pay it.

If you’re using your card for day-to-day expenses, your balance can look high even if you pay in full every month.

Try this:

• Make one payment mid-month
• Make your second payment right before the statement closes

This can lower the balance that gets reported and improve utilization without changing your spending habits.

3) Ask for credit limit increases (without increasing spending)

If you can increase your available credit, your utilization improves automatically, as long as you don’t spend more.

This can work well when:

• You’ve had the card for a while
• You’ve been paying on time
• Your income supports the increase

One caution: some credit limit requests trigger a hard inquiry, some don’t. If you’re close to applying for a mortgage, you want to be careful about hard pulls.

If you’re unsure, ask the card issuer:

• “Will this request require a hard inquiry?”
  If yes, it may not be worth it right before a mortgage application.

4) Pay down high-interest debt strategically

High-interest debt is expensive and can trap you financially. From a credit score perspective, what matters most is revolving debt (credit cards), but paying down other debt can still help your overall profile and your debt-to-income ratio.

Two popular payoff methods:

• Debt snowball: pay off smallest balances first for quick wins
• Debt avalanche: pay off highest interest first to save the most money

If you’re trying to improve credit quickly, paying down revolving credit is typically the most efficient move. But reducing total debt is never a bad idea, especially before a mortgage.

5) Become an authorized user (only if it’s a truly clean account)

Being added as an authorized user on someone else’s well-managed credit card can help because you may benefit from:

• Their account age
• Their low utilization
• Their on-time payment history

This can be a helpful boost, but it has to be done carefully.

Only consider this if:

• The primary account holder always pays on time
• The card typically carries a low balance
• The account has been open a long time
• You trust the person completely

If they miss a payment or max the card out, it can hurt you, too.

6) Dispute credit report errors immediately

If something on your report is wrong, dispute it. Don’t assume “it’s probably fine” because mortgage underwriting won’t.

Common errors include:

• Paid collections showing as unpaid
• Wrong late payment dates
• Accounts that don’t belong to you
• Incorrect credit limits or balances

Fixing errors can take time, but it’s one of the few strategies that can create a meaningful improvement without you spending money.

7) Add rent and utility reporting (if it’s beneficial for your profile)

Some services allow rent and certain utility payments to be reported. This doesn’t help everyone the same way, but for people who have a thin credit file—or who don’t have many traditional accounts, it can help strengthen your history.

If you already have strong credit, this may not move the needle much. But if your file is light, it can add positive signals.

What NOT to Do Right Before Applying for a Mortgage

This is where a lot of people accidentally sabotage themselves.

Don’t open new credit cards “for points”

A new account can lower your average account age and may trigger a hard inquiry. Even if you get approved, it can cause your score to dip temporarily.

Don’t close old credit cards

Closing a card can reduce your total available credit and increase utilization. It can also shorten your credit history.

Don’t finance new furniture or a car

It’s tempting when you’re buying a home, but new debt can impact:

• Credit score
• Debt-to-income ratio
• Underwriting decisions

If you’re in the homebuying process, keep your financial life boring until after closing.

Don’t miss any payments, even once

A single late payment can hit hard. If you’re busy, set up autopay for at least the minimum payment on every account.

How to Maintain a Strong Score After You Improve It

Once your score is in a good place, keep the momentum:

• Pay every bill on time (autopay helps)
• Keep credit card balances low
• Don’t apply for new credit unless you truly need it
• Monitor your credit report regularly
• Build a small emergency fund so you don’t rely on credit cards during surprises

A strong credit score isn’t just for getting approved, it helps you keep more of your money long-term.

When You Should Talk to a Mortgage Pro Instead of Guessing

Here’s the truth: credit score tips online are general. Mortgage approvals are personal.

If you’re within a few months of buying, it’s smart to talk to a mortgage professional who can help you understand:

• Which actions help most based on your current profile
• What to avoid while you’re in the window of applying
• How your credit affects your interest rate and payment
• What timeline makes sense for your goals

Sometimes the best move isn’t “raise your score at all costs.” Sometimes it’s “make your file cleaner and more approvable.”

If you’re buying or refinancing in Los Angeles or Southern California and want a clear plan, reach out to Shannon Christenot for a personalized, no-pressure conversation. You’ll walk away knowing exactly what matters for your situation and what doesn’t.

Quick Credit Score Checklist Before a Mortgage

If you want a simple way to know you’re on track, use this:

• Credit cards paid down and balances kept low
• No missed payments (autopay turned on)
• No new credit applications
• Credit reports reviewed for errors
• Disputes submitted where needed
• Spending stable and predictable
• Big purchases on pause until after closing

If you’d like, you can also ask Shannon what credit range you’re currently in and what the best next move is for your specific mortgage plan.