[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f3p3ey3qasoyol":3,"$ffeh0925h8cuz":41,"$fbwk2pqjjqsc7":45},{"item":4,"previous":29,"next":35},{"id":5,"slug":6,"title":7,"description":8,"excerpt":9,"contentType":10,"featuredImage":11,"bannerImage":9,"body":12,"agentsBottomLine":12,"bodyImage":9,"isInfographic":13,"categories":14,"isVideo":13,"videoThumbnail":9,"videoSource":9,"publishedAt":27,"updatedAt":28},945,"thinking-about-buying-know-your-credit-score","Thinking About Buying? Know Your Credit Score","Knowing your credit score or getting a recent copy of your credit report is one of the first steps that you can take toward knowing how ready you are to start the home buying process.","","blog","https:\u002F\u002Fsimplifyingmedia\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002F26120555\u002F20171101-Share-STM.jpg","Knowing your credit score or getting a recent copy of your credit report is one of the first steps that you can take toward knowing how ready you are to start the home buying process.\u003C!--more-->\r\n\r\nMake sure all the information listed on your report is accurate and work to correct any mistakes. The higher your credit score, the more likely you will be to receive a better interest rate for your mortgage, which will translate into more \u003Cem>‘home for your money.'\u003C\u002Fem>\r\n\r\nMany potential buyers believe that they need a 750 FICO® Score or higher to be able to purchase a home. The truth is that according to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fstatic.elliemae.com\u002Fpdf\u002Forigination-insight-reports\u002FEllie_Mae_OIR_SEPTEMBER2017.pdf\">\u003Cem>Ellie Mae’s Origination Report\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>, over 53% of loans were approved with a FICO® score under 750 last month!\r\n\u003Ch4>Here are some tips for improving your credit score:\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\n\u003Cul>\r\n \t\u003Cli>Make payments, including rent, credit cards, and car loans, on time.\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n \t\u003Cli>Keep your spending to no more than 30% of your limit on credit cards.\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n \t\u003Cli>Pay down high-balance credit cards to lower balances, and consider balance transfers to free up credit.\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n \t\u003Cli>Check for errors on your credit report and work toward fixing them.\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n \t\u003Cli>Shop for mortgage rates within a 30-day period — too many spread-out inquiries can lower your score.\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n \t\u003Cli>Work with a credit counselor or a lender to improve your score.\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n\u003C\u002Ful>\r\nOnce you know your score, your next step will be finding a lender and getting \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2017\u002F06\u002F27\u002Fpre-approval-should-always-be-your-first-step\u002F\">pre-approved\u003C\u002Fa> for a mortgage. Doing this will ensure that you know your budget before you start looking for your dream home.",false,[15,19,23],{"id":16,"name":17,"slug":18},5,"For Buyers","buyers",{"id":20,"name":21,"slug":22},11,"First-Time Buyers","first-time-buyers",{"id":24,"name":25,"slug":26},38,"Move-Up","move-up","2017-11-01T10:00:20Z","2017-10-26T13:05:28Z",{"id":30,"slug":31,"title":32,"featuredImage":33,"publishedAt":34,"contentType":10,"isVideo":13},944,"dont-let-fear-stop-you-from-applying-for-a-mortgage","Don't Let Fear Stop You from Applying for a Mortgage","https:\u002F\u002Fsimplifyingmedia\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002F25094910\u002F20171030-Share-STM.jpg","2017-10-31T10:00:31Z",{"id":36,"slug":37,"title":38,"featuredImage":39,"publishedAt":40,"contentType":10,"isVideo":13},946,"why-sell-now-instead-of-later-the-buyers-are-out-now","Why Sell Now Instead of Later? The Buyers are Out Now","https:\u002F\u002Fsimplifyingmedia\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002F30163227\u002F20171102-Share-STM.jpg","2017-11-02T10:00:09Z",{"cover":42,"open":43,"shareSpread":44},"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Cover-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Spread-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Magazine-original.png",[46,50,51,55,59,63,67,68,72,76,77,81,85,89,93,97,101,105,109,113,117,121,125,129,133,137,141,145,149,153],{"id":47,"name":48,"slug":49},1,"Uncategorized","uncategorized",{"id":16,"name":17,"slug":18},{"id":52,"name":53,"slug":54},6,"For Sellers","sellers",{"id":56,"name":57,"slug":58},7,"Foreclosures","foreclosures",{"id":60,"name":61,"slug":62},8,"Infographics","infographics",{"id":64,"name":65,"slug":66},9,"Home Prices","home-prices",{"id":20,"name":21,"slug":22},{"id":69,"name":70,"slug":71},34,"Senior Market","senior-market",{"id":73,"name":74,"slug":75},35,"Mortgage Rates","mortgage-rates",{"id":24,"name":25,"slug":26},{"id":78,"name":79,"slug":80},41,"For Sale by Owner","for-sale-by-owner",{"id":82,"name":83,"slug":84},42,"Featured","featured",{"id":86,"name":87,"slug":88},45,"New Construction","new-construction",{"id":90,"name":91,"slug":92},52,"Luxury \u002F Vacation","luxury--vacation",{"id":94,"name":95,"slug":96},53,"Rent vs. Buy","rent-vs-buy",{"id":98,"name":99,"slug":100},80,"Time-sensitive","time-sensitive",{"id":102,"name":103,"slug":104},81,"Outdated","outdated",{"id":106,"name":107,"slug":108},147,"Internal","internal",{"id":110,"name":111,"slug":112},148,"Do Not Autopost","do-not-autopost",{"id":114,"name":115,"slug":116},320,"Inventory","inventory",{"id":118,"name":119,"slug":120},321,"Agent Value","agent-value",{"id":122,"name":123,"slug":124},322,"Affordability","affordability",{"id":126,"name":127,"slug":128},323,"Buying Tips","buying-tips",{"id":130,"name":131,"slug":132},324,"Downsize","downsize",{"id":134,"name":135,"slug":136},325,"Economy","economy",{"id":138,"name":139,"slug":140},326,"Equity","equity",{"id":142,"name":143,"slug":144},327,"Forecasts","forecasts",{"id":146,"name":147,"slug":148},328,"Selling Tips","selling-tips",{"id":150,"name":151,"slug":152},339,"Expired\u002FWithdrawn\u002FCanceled","expiredwithdrawncanceled",{"id":154,"name":155,"slug":156},340,"Price It Right\u002FOverpricing","price-it-rightoverpricing"]