Thinking about buying your first home but worried about how your credit score might affect your mortgage? For first-time homebuyers, your credit score is key. It not only determines if you qualify for a loan but also the interest rate you’ll get. A good credit score can save you thousands over time, while a low score might make getting approved more difficult.

This guide breaks down the five main factors that impact your credit score. By the end, you’ll know how your score is calculated and get practical tips to improve it – bringing you closer to owning your dream home.

What is a Credit Score and Why it Matters

A credit score is a three-digit number that shows how likely you are to repay borrowed money. Lenders check your credit score to decide if they should approve your loans or mortgages. Scores range from 300 to 850, and the higher your score, the better your chances of getting loans with good terms.

The two main scoring systems, FICO and VantageScore, look at factors like your payment history and credit usage to calculate your score.

Credit Score Ranges

Here’s a quick look at how credit scores are categorized:

• 300-579: Poor
• 580-669: Fair
• 670-739: Good
• 740-799: Very Good
• 800-850: Exceptional

For most first-time homebuyers, a score in the “Good” range or above increases your chances of obtaining a competitive mortgage rate.

Let’s break down the five key parts of your credit score and see how they affect your finances.

Five Key Factors That Make Up Your Credit Score

Credit scores are calculated using five major factors, each of which carries a different level of importance. The two most impactful factors together represent over 65% of your credit score.

Payment History (35% of Your Score)

Your payment history is the most important factor in determining your credit score. Why? It shows lenders if you can be trusted to pay back money on time. This includes payments for credit cards, loans, and mortgages.

How It Affects Your Score: Lenders want to see consistency. Even one late payment– 30 days overdue – can seriously hurt your credit score and stay on your credit report for up to seven years.

How to Improve It:

• Pay on Time: Use autopay or set reminders to avoid missing due dates.
• Talk to Your Lender: If you’re struggling financially, contact your lender or credit card company. They may offer help, like payment plans or deferrals.
• Get Back on Track: If you miss a payment, pay as soon as you can. Keeping a positive payment history over time will help your score recover.

Amounts Owed (30% of Your Score)

Credit utilization measures how much of your available credit you’re using. Keeping this rate low shows lenders that you manage credit well.

Lenders prefer your credit utilization ratio to stay below 30%. For example, if your credit limit is $10,000, try to keep your balance under $3,000 for a 30% utilization rate, which is generally acceptable.

How It Affects Your Credit Score: A high utilization rate can make you seem overly reliant on credit, which may concern lenders. Maxed-out credit cards or large balances can hurt your score.

Tips to Improve Credit Utilization

• Keep Usage Below 30%: Aim to use less than 30% of your total credit limit. For instance, with a $10,000 limit, stay under $3,000 in usage.
• Pay Balances Early: Make extra payments throughout the month to reduce your balance before it’s reported to the credit bureaus.
• Increase Your Credit Limit: Requesting a higher credit limit can lower your utilization percentage, but only if you avoid increasing your spending.

Credit bureaus check your utilization monthly, so lowering high balances can improve your score quickly.

Length of Credit History (15% of Your Score)

Your credit history shows how long you’ve been using credit. It looks at the average age of your accounts and the age of your oldest account. Credit scoring models favor borrowers with a longer, reliable track record.

How It Impacts Your Score: The longer your accounts stay active with positive payment histories, the better your score. Lenders prefer borrowers with more history because it gives them a clearer picture of how you manage credit over time.

How to Improve It:

• Keep Older Accounts Open: Even if you don’t use an old credit card, keeping the account open can help maintain your credit history length – unless it has high annual fees.
• Become an Authorized User: If you have a family member or trusted contact with a long credit history, ask to be added as an authorized user on their account. Their history could help boost your score.

Credit Mix (10% of Your Score)

Your credit mix is the variety of credit types you have, like credit cards, mortgages, car loans, or student loans. Having different types of credit shows you can manage various types of debt responsibly.

How It Affects Your Credit Score: A mix of credit types demonstrates to lenders that you can handle both revolving credit (like credit cards) and installment loans (like mortgages or car loans).

Tips to Improve Your Credit Mix:

• Diversify Gradually: Don’t open multiple accounts at once. Instead, consider adding both installment loans (e.g., car loans) and revolving credit (e.g., credit cards) as needed.
• Only Borrow When Necessary: Take on credit only if it fits your goals, like financing a big purchase or naturally building your credit mix over time.

New Credit (10% of Your Score)

This category looks at how often you’ve recently opened new accounts or applied for credit. Each application causes a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can temporarily lower your score.

How It Affects Your Score: A few hard inquiries won’t hurt much, but opening multiple accounts in a short time can be a red flag for lenders. Too many inquiries and new accounts can suggest you’re relying too heavily on credit, especially if your credit history is short.

How to Improve It:

• Spread Out Applications: Only apply for credit when necessary and try to wait at least six months between applications.
• Prepare Before Applying for a Mortgage: Check your credit score beforehand to avoid unnecessary hits from denied applications.

If you’re shopping for a mortgage, multiple loan inquiries within a short period (typically 14 to 45 days) are usually treated as one inquiry, which reduces the impact on your score.

Takeaways for First-Time Homebuyers

Your credit score plays a pivotal role in qualifying for a mortgage and securing favorable loan terms. To recap, focus on these top priorities to improve and maintain a healthy score:

1. Always pay bills on time.
2. Keep credit utilization below 30%.
3. Maintain older accounts to preserve credit history.
4. Aim for a mix of credit types.
5. Avoid opening multiple new accounts simultaneously.

By consistently practicing good credit habits, you’ll set yourself up not only for mortgage approval but also for better financial opportunities overall.

A Strong Credit Score Opens Doors to Homeownership

Your credit score isn’t just a number; it’s a key that can unlock opportunities, including homeownership. By understanding what goes into your score, you’ll be well-prepared to qualify for a mortgage and secure competitive rates. Start working on your score today and take one step closer to turning your first homeownership dream into reality.

Building and maintaining good credit is a long-term commitment, but the rewards are worth it.

Hayden Homes is excited to work with you to find your dream home. Our new home communities in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana offer affordable new homes backed by our commitment to quality. Contact us today to learn how we can help get you into your new home!