Lenders carefully consider your credit score because it provides them with an objective measure of your creditworthiness.  When buying a home in Auburn, the loan officer will first pull up your credit report to see what credit score you have.  Credit scores range from 300 to 850, and anywhere in between.

It is wise for a potential buyer in Auburn, WA to check his/her own credit reports regularly before applying for new credit, to be sure the credit reports are accurate and up-to-date.  As long as you order your credit reports through an organization authorized to provide credit reports to consumers, such as www.myFICO.com, your own inquiries will not affect your FICO score.  You can also get 1 credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) once every 12 months from www.annualcreditreport.com.  However, this site does not provide credit scores.

Also, another one that is advertised is freecreditreport.com. It is free for a limited time (7 day trial period), and then they charge a monthly fee. Obviously they are marketing towards people who have a high chance of forgetting to cancel.  Another one with a free credit report is www.creditkarma.com. It has a great blog site with a lot of subjects about credit and personal finances.  A savvy Auburn home buyer will get a lot of information from this site.

The one that I have been using for many years is www.creditnotify.com.  I pay a small monthly fee for this (currently $12.95 a month).  It provides me with my credit score, and another HUGE plus is that it immediately alerts me to any inquires or changes from the 3 leading credit bureaus. This prevents identity theft and other unauthorized use of my personal credit. This beats just getting my credit report for free, this service is worth a lot of money for me to have peace of mind and not have to worry about what is happening on my credit reports.

What about companies that claim they can improve my credit report for a fee?   The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cautions consumers to be wary of companies that make claims regarding credit repair. The FTC and state attorneys general have filed actions against those who pursue these fraudulent practices. These companies do not do anything for consumers that consumers and Auburn home buyers cannot do for themselves.

Also, beware of proxy websites, which are sites that mimic popular websites to lure consumers into disclosing confidential information.  In order to protect yourself against proxy activity, access the above recommended websites or any websites directly by typing its address (URL) into your browser and then bookmark it.

If you would like more tips on improving your credit, please let me know.  I can put you in touch with a reputable consultant in the Auburn area who can work with you to help improve your credit score.