1. Check for and correct any errors in your credit report. Mistakes happen.
2. Pay down credit card bills. Transferring credit card debt from one card to another could lower your score.
3. Don’t charge your credit cards to max.
4. Wait 12 months after credit difficulties to apply for a mortgage. You’re penalized less for problems after a year.
5. Don’t order items for your new home on credit–such as appliances and furniture–until after the loan is approved. The amounts will add to you debt.
6. Don’t open credit card accounts before applying for a mortgage. Too much available credit can lower your score.
7. Shop for mortgage rates all at once. Too many credit applications can lower your score, bout multiple inquiries from the same type of lender are counted as one inquiry if submitted over a short period of time.
8. Avoid finance companies. Even if you pay the loan on time, the interest is high and it will probably be considered a sign of poor credit management.

Info. is copyrighted by Fannie Mae Foundation