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Understanding your credit score

Understand your credit score

The term credit score gets a lot of buzz and may leave you wondering why it all matters.
Simply put, your credit score is a number that summarizes your credit report and helps lenders determine your likelihood to repay a loan.

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Understanding your credit score

Credit scores help lenders determine eligibility for loans or credit.

Credit score ranges

  • 300-659: Poor
  • 660-719: Fair
  • 720-779: Good
  • 780-850: Great


Factors that may impact your credit score

  • Payment history (most important): Consistent, on time-payments improve scores; delinquent payments affect scores
  • Credit history: Long and diverse credit history improves scores; short credit history affects scores
  • Credit usage: Balances below 30% of your credit limit improve scores; high credit balances affect scores
  • Total balances: Paying down balances regularly improves scores; outstanding debt affects scores
  • Credit checks: A limited number of credit checks improves scores; multiple credit checks affect scores
  • Available credit: Adding more open lines of credit improves scores; limited lines of credit affect scores
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How to check your credit score

You’ll want to make sure your credit reports are accurate and up to date before you apply for a mortgage.

Check your credit score and credit report for free once every 12 months at each of the 3 major credit-reporting agencies, or use Chase Credit Journey to regularly track your score and learn about the actions you can take to improve it.

Here's how to contact each of the 3 major credit-reporting agencies:

Use Chase Credit Journey to monitor your financial health

Stay up to date with your credit info using our free Chase credit journey service, which offers:
 

  • Unlimited access to your VantageScore and credit report
  • Alerts about critical changes to your credit report
  • A score simulator that helps you identify how financial decisions will affect your credit


Please note: Your VantageScore is an informational credit score and may vary from a FICO® Score provided by credit reporting agencies. Decisions about your loan application will likely be made using your FICO credit score, as well as other information you provide.

Credit Score for a Home Loan

Improving your credit score can help in the process of getting approved for your mortgage. Learn more here.

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Improve your credit score

A strong credit score may help you get a mortgage – see how you can improve yours.

Move on to finding a home

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