Your credit score is critical to your financial health, as it rates your creditworthiness. Essentially, your credit score determines how much money you can borrow, what interest rate and how much in fees you'll have to pay. Your credit score is based on your credit report, which includes information about your credit history - your payment history, how much debt you owe, how long you've had credit, the types of credit you have, and how often you apply for credit.
In Canada and the US, most lenders use the FICO credit score system, which ranges from 300 to 900. The higher your credit score, the more likely you will be approved for a mortgage and the better the terms you'll receive.
For example, if you have a credit score of 750 or higher, you can get a mortgage with a low interest rate and a small down payment. A lower interest rate means lower monthly payments, which can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage.
On the other hand, if your credit score is below 600, you may have difficulty getting approved for a mortgage and may be required to make a larger down payment or pay a higher interest rate. A higher interest rate means higher monthly payments, which can make it harder to afford your mortgage payment and other expenses.
Here are the most important factors affecting your credit score:
#1 Defaulting on a Loan Defaulting on a loan has the most severe negative impact on your credit score. It means you have failed to repay the loan as agreed, and it can stay on your credit report for up to seven years. A default can significantly reduce your credit score and make it challenging to get approved for credit in the future.Payment history is the most significant factor determining your credit score. Late and missed payments significantly reduce your credit score. The longer you delay your payments, the more it negatively affects your score. Even one late payment can have a considerable impact on your credit score.
Credit utilization is the ratio of outstanding credit card balances to credit limits. A high credit utilization ratio indicates that you are using a significant amount of your available credit, which may suggest that you are overextended and need help to make payments. Keeping your credit utilization ratio below 30% is ideal for maintaining a good credit score.
When you apply for credit, the lender performs a hard inquiry on your credit report. Too many hard inquiries in a short period can lower your credit score as it suggests you are actively seeking credit and may be at a higher risk of defaulting on your payments.
Closing credit accounts also negatively impacts your credit score, especially if you have a long credit history. Creditors prefer to see that you have a lengthy credit history and can manage multiple credit accounts effectively. Closing an account will reduce the average age of your credit accounts, which can harm your credit score.
Here are some tips to keep your credit score healthy:
Improving your credit score takes time and effort, but because it results in getting the best terms on your mortgage, it is worth it. Here's how you can improve your credit score:
The first step to rebuilding your credit score is to get a copy of your credit report. You can request a free copy of your credit report from Equifax or TransUnion in Canada. Review your credit report carefully to identify any errors or inaccuracies that may negatively impact your score. If you find any errors, dispute them with the credit bureau.
While having debt - if you are paying it off on time - helps you build your credit score, the amount of debt you have limits the amount you can borrow. If you have high credit card balances or other debts, work on paying them down as quickly as possible. If you're using a significant amount of your available credit, this may suggest that you are overextended and may struggle to make payments. The less debt you have, the better your credit utilization ratio will be, which can help improve your credit score.
Start paying your bills on time with no exceptions. Make this the #1 priority each month. Creating a monthly budget helps you take care of your financial health. You can use a budgeting app or a Google or Excel sheet to plan your expenses.
If you are struggling to rebuild your credit score, consider seeking professional help from a credit counselor or financial advisor. They can help you develop a plan to improve your credit score, manage your debts, and create a budget.
