How Long does it take to repair your credit score?

Question

I'm going to apply as a first-time owner and upon speaking to a mortgager I was told that I had to increase my credit score in order for them to work with me. or have 15% down payment of the home I wish to buy. Does it still take years before the credit score is improved?

Answer 1

1-3 years

just kidding - buy things on credit and pay them off ( early ) - pay off any existing debt - get rid of credit cards you don't need ( will improve debt to income ratio - also important ) it's up to you how long it takes

ALSO SHOP AROUND FOR YOUR LOAN standards vary a lot

ALSO A RE PO BOOM IS STARTING -people got loans they shouldn't have which means standards are getting tougher - but it means that taking over existing loans will be easier ( always a good deal cause they will lower the rate to keep from foreclosing)

Answer 2

I had a mortgage (zero down) 1+ years out of a bankruptcy discharge. Of course, my BK was brought about by a divorce and my credit had been good before and after so that history may have helped.

From what I understand, 1 year of good payment and responsibility is good, 3 years is great. I've been told me that they don't focus on anything that's 3+ years or more. Which has worked for me.

My credit score increased from 550 (2004) after the BK to 680 (2006). I have a mortgage, lower insurance, and 2 credit cards w/ low rates.

Good luck.

Answer 3

As a mortgage lender in CAL I train loan officers how to improve the scores in as little as 1 week.

There are now tools provided to those who have access to pulling credit which will analyze the credit profile and provide a trained professional the ability to adjust balances and determine how much a score will improve by paying what items. We use it regularly as a means of helping borrowers get a better rate simply by making a few adjustments to consumer credit balances. Disputed items can also be handled this way. Of course, documentation proving an item is false is required but many times a credit report has items that were paid...but are not reporting that way....and it can affect scores.

In short, if the mortgage broker told you to bring the scores up but had no suggestions...he is not your man.

Answer 4

There are several ways you can help to repair your credit quickly. Not overnight, but at least faster than the usual way. These are sort of light coverage answers to your question. I could write an entire chapter on this. I'll just give you the cliff notes.

1. Creditors like to see your debt ratio to be about 60/40. If possible, apply for a new credit card that offers low interest or even zero if you use it to take your money from one account and put it into your new account.

What happens is your debt ratio will lower because you now have more credit available. When you apply for credit, it does lower your credit score a tiny bit, so if you don't think you'll actually qualify for the credit, don't use this technique.

2. I have only read of this in a book on credit repair...

If you have a friend of family member with "A" credit. Ask them to add you to one of their credit cards. You will inherit their credit history. They do NOT inherit yours and they never have to give you the card or the number to use it. They only add you to the card. You are also not responsible for it.

However, before trying that, I would recommend going to your local bank and asking how that works...

"My father wants to add me to his credit card, does this mean that if he fails to pay I have to?" "How exactly will this effect his credit if I have bad credit?"

The book I read is excellent, but I would rather have you make sure to check with a bank than to rely on a book. I have not personally tried this.

So, the things you can do over time, say the next 6 months to a year to build your credit, would be to lower your debt ratio, and to of course make sure your make timely payments on all your cards.

You can also look into taking off older negative credit from closed accounts. If they are older than 2 years, you can dispute the negative credit. The creditor has to prove it belongs there. Most creditors do not keep that information easily available after 2 years and it's not worth it for them to try and pay the hours to dig it up. If they don't prove it, it is removed.

That does not apply to bankruptcy's which stay on your credit for up to 10 years.

Those are some ways to improve your score. The disputing one is about a 30 day process if I remember correctly.

Answer 5

It depends on how much you would like it to approve. You can (generally speaking) improve your credit score in 6 months simply by not charging a single thing and making all minimum payments on time. Doing so will improve your score by anywhere from 2 to 20 points. Paying off the balance on some accounts will also give your credit score a boost.

Answer 6

Really this doesn't present enough facts to give you an accurate answer.

Do you have credit now? Is everything being reported correctly? Are there accounts that could be added to show you are reliable, pay on time, etc?

You can improve your scores within 30 to 45 days or much longer if you have to pull paperwork and prove what you think is actually correct.

You should have received a Denial Letter and a Consumer Credit Report from your mortgage representative. If you didn't, call him/her now.

Check out another answer from today: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Am4tWpo5lWwlUb5zGTon7kTsy6IX?qid=20061020105557AAtZZnW

Hope this helps,
Elise Altergott, Principal Broker
Associate Mortgage: http://www.web-mtg.com/?src=answers
Associate Consulting: http://www.ac-fl.com/?src=answers

Answer 7

Tough question to answer without facts- but I'll try - If you have a bankruptcy you must establish lines of credit either by purchasing a vehicle or secured credit cards, etc and keep the payments in good standing for at least a year. if you had derogatory credit on your report you have to pay those debts off - if it is your debt to income ratio that's' hurting you then again you must pay down some of your debt obligations

Answer 8

I don't think so. My sister had terrible credit and refinanced her house. She got a high interest rate. The mortgager told her to come back in one year (making all payments to all her creditors on time) and he would get her a better interest rate. After just 11 months, he did.

Answer 9

give or take one year but that is if you do monthly payments of what they want you to pay dontgivethem more then what they ask for or if will make your credit worse

Answer 10

I believe it still takes years that is why when people are in debt, they remain in debt for a long long time. its tough.