{"id":1937,"date":"2024-03-16T20:53:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-16T20:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/?page_id=1937"},"modified":"2024-03-18T19:53:17","modified_gmt":"2024-03-18T19:53:17","slug":"understanding-and-improving-your-credit-score","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/index.php\/understanding-and-improving-your-credit-score\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding and Improving Your Credit Score"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_0 et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_0  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_0  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_0  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4>START Home Loans<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_1  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h1>Understanding &amp; Improving Your Credit Score<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_2  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Your credit score plays a critical role in securing a mortgage loan. Lenders use this numerical representation of your creditworthiness to assess the risk of providing a mortgage loan.  A higher credit score typically results in better loan terms, including lower interest rates, while a lower score may lead to higher rates or difficulty in obtaining approval.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_button_module_wrapper et_pb_button_0_wrapper  et_pb_module \">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"et_pb_button et_d4_element et_pb_button_0 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_block_module\" href=\"\">Get Started<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_0\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1002\" src=\"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/computer-logo.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"computer-logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/computer-logo.png 1000w, https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/computer-logo-980x982.png 980w, https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/computer-logo-480x481.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1000px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-1957\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_1 et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_background_pattern\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_3  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2>How is your score calculated?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_4  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">Credit scores are calculated using a variety of factors, including payment history, Outstanding debt, length of credit history, Inquires, and Mix of credit types. Each factor carries a different weight in the calculation, with payment history generally being the most significant.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_3  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_1\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"773\" src=\"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/pie-3.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"pie\" srcset=\"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/pie-3.png 800w, https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/pie-3-480x464.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-1968\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_counters et_pb_counters_0 et-waypoint et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"et_pb_counter et_d4_element et_pb_counter_0\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_title\">Inquiries<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount\" style=\"\" data-width=\"10%\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number_inner\">10%<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount overlay\" style=\"\" data-width=\"10%\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number_inner\">10%<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"et_pb_counter et_d4_element et_pb_counter_1\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_title\">Mix of Credit Types<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount\" style=\"\" data-width=\"10%\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number_inner\">10%<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount overlay\" style=\"\" data-width=\"10%\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number_inner\">10%<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"et_pb_counter et_d4_element et_pb_counter_2\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_title\">Credit History<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount\" style=\"\" data-width=\"15%\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number_inner\">15%<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount overlay\" style=\"\" data-width=\"15%\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number_inner\">15%<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"et_pb_counter et_d4_element et_pb_counter_3\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_title\">Outstanding Debt<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount\" style=\"\" data-width=\"30%\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number_inner\">30%<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount overlay\" style=\"\" data-width=\"30%\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number_inner\">30%<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"et_pb_counter et_d4_element et_pb_counter_4\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_title\">Payment History<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount\" style=\"\" data-width=\"35%\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number_inner\">35%<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount overlay\" style=\"\" data-width=\"35%\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number\"><span class=\"et_pb_counter_amount_number_inner\">35%<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_2 et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_background_pattern\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_3  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_5  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_5  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2>Why is it important?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_6  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">While a good credit score is important for obtaining a mortgage loan, it doesn't need to be perfect. Lenders understand that individuals may have varying credit histories and may consider other factors such as income, employment stability, and down payment amount. While many down payment assistant programs require a credit score of 620, individuals with scores as low as 500 may still qualify for FHA loans. However, a strong credit score can open doors to other financial opportunities, such as obtaining favorable insurance rates or buying a car. <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_6  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_4  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column et_pb_column_7  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_7  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2>Soft pull vs Hard pull, what\u2019s the difference?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_8  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>When applying for a mortgage, lenders may conduct either a soft pull or a hard pull on your credit report. A soft pull, often used for pre-qualification or pre-approval purposes, doesn't impact your credit score and provides a basic overview of your creditworthiness. In contrast, a hard pull, typically performed during the mortgage application process, can temporarily lower your credit score but provides lenders with a detailed credit history to assess your eligibility for a loan.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column et_pb_column_8  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_2\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"773\" src=\"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/mobile-1.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"mobile\" srcset=\"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/mobile-1.png 800w, https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/mobile-1-480x464.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-1959\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_3 et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_5  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_9  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_4 et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular section_has_divider et_pb_bottom_divider et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_with_border et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_6  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_10  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_with_border et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_7 option-1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_11  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_blurb et_pb_blurb_0  et_pb_text_align_left  et_pb_blurb_position_top et_block_module et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\"><span>Check for any credit report errors<\/span><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\">In the United States, individuals are able to receive a free credit report annually. You can obtain it by visiting https:\/\/www.annualcreditreport.com. Take advantage of this opportunity to review your credit and assess your financial standing.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_12  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_icon et_pb_icon_0\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap \"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">N<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_with_border et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_8 option-2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_13  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_blurb et_pb_blurb_1  et_pb_text_align_left  et_pb_blurb_position_top et_block_module et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\"><span>Negotiate a settlement with creditors<\/span><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\">Negotiating a settlement with creditors can potentially improve your credit score by resolving outstanding debts and demonstrating responsible financial management.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_14  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_icon et_pb_icon_1\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap \"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">N<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_with_border et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_9 option-3  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_15  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_blurb et_pb_blurb_2  et_pb_text_align_left  et_pb_blurb_position_top et_block_module et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\"><span>Pay off all past due balances<\/span><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\">Paying off past due balances can significantly boost your credit score by demonstrating a commitment to fulfilling financial obligations and reducing negative marks on your credit report.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_16  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_icon et_pb_icon_2\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap \"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">N<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_with_border et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_10 option-4  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_17  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_blurb et_pb_blurb_3  et_pb_text_align_left  et_pb_blurb_position_top et_block_module et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\"><span>Avoid new credit card applications and large purchases<\/span><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\">Avoiding new credit applications and large purchases can help boost your credit score by preventing additional hard inquiries and maintaining a low credit utilization ratio ideally below 30%, which are key factors in credit scoring models.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_18  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_icon et_pb_icon_3\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap \"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">N<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_with_border et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_11 option-5  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_19  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_blurb et_pb_blurb_4  et_pb_text_align_left  et_pb_blurb_position_top et_block_module et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\"><span>Pay future bills and debt on time<\/span><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\">Paying future bills and debt on time helps boost your credit score by establishing a positive payment history. This factor accounts for 35% of the overall assessment of creditworthiness, showcasing financial responsibility.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_20  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_icon et_pb_icon_4\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap \"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">N<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_bottom_inside_divider et-no-transition\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_5 et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular section_has_divider et_pb_bottom_divider et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_12  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_21  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_icon et_pb_icon_5\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap \"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">Z<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_9  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2>Create credit stability<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_10  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">Pay on time and as agreed. Late payments, which can linger on your credit report, however, contacting the organization promptly in the event of an emergency or an inadvertent missed due date may result in flexibility, particularly if you have a strong history of on-time payments.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_22  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_icon et_pb_icon_6\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap \"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">Z<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_11  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2>Reduce the amount of debt you owe<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_12  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span>Ensure that your credit card issuers accurately report the correct credit limits on your account, as your credit utilization ratio, which compares the amount of credit you use to the amount available, plays a crucial role in enhancing your credit score when kept at 30% or lower. Maintaining low balances on revolving credit and strategically paying off debts, focusing on high-interest cards first while keeping other accounts current with minimum payments, can positively impact your credit score.\u00a0 Additionally, refraining from closing unused credit cards for temporary score boosts and avoiding unnecessary new credit card applications can safeguard against potential drops in credit scores.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_23  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_icon et_pb_icon_7\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap \"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">Z<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_13  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2>Protect your interest<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_14  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">Regularly monitoring your credit annually from each of the three major credit reporting agencies and correcting any incorrect information can help boost your credit score by ensuring accuracy and swiftly addressing discrepancies, thus presenting a more favorable credit profile to potential creditors.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_bottom_inside_divider et-no-transition\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_6 et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_13  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_24  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_15  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2>Just starting out?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_16  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Having no credit history can result in a low score, despite being financially responsible, as it takes time to establish creditworthiness without any prior history. If you are aiming to build a strong credit history, options like obtaining a secured card or becoming an authorized user on someone else's account can be beneficial and help start your credit history.  A secured credit card requires cash collateral for the line of credit. Many banks and lending institutions provide secured card options, with the majority reporting activity to credit bureaus, offering an opportunity to build credit. Use your card but keep the balances low and pay on time.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_button_module_wrapper et_pb_button_1_wrapper et_pb_button_alignment_center et_pb_module \">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"et_pb_button et_d4_element et_pb_button_1 et_pb_bg_layout_light et_block_module\" href=\"\">Connect With Us<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1937","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1937"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23944170,"href":"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1937\/revisions\/23944170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/7rendered.com\/7rwp\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}