Credit Scoring 101

Understanding your credit is the foundation of qualifying for a mortgage. This section breaks down the essential components of credit scoring — what matters, what doesn’t, and how lenders actually look at your file.

• What is a Credit Score?

How it’s calculated, what ranges mean, and why scores differ everywhere.

• FICO vs. VantageScore

Which models lenders use and why mortgage scores are different than Credit Karma.

• The 5 Factors of Credit

Payment history, utilization, age of credit, mix, inquiries.

• Mortgage Credit Reports

Tri-merge, soft pulls, and why mortgage scores tend to be lower.

• Common Myths & Misconceptions

(“Paying off your car early helps your score,” etc.)