If you’re applying for a loan, your credit score is key to getting it approved. But if your score isn’t where you want it to be, and you’re working hard to improve it without seeing changes, you might wonder when things will start to look up. In this blog, we’ll discuss exactly that. Let’s dive right in. And if you’re looking for credit repair services to improve your credit score faster, consider checking out Credit Repair of Florida.
What’s a Minimum Score Required?
It can depend on the type of loan you want, but generally, a score of 750 is considered good. If you’re above this number, you’re in a stronger position to get approved and possibly get better interest rates.
How Long Will It Take to Improve My Credit Score?
Improving your credit score to qualify for a loan typically takes between 4 to 12 months. If your score is currently between 650 and 700, you could boost your score up to 750 within a few months. If your score is under 650, expect it to take a bit longer to improve.
How to Improve My Credit Score?
Consider doing the following to improve your credit score:
Pay Your Bills on Time: Your payment history is the most significant factor in your credit score. Even if you can only afford the minimum payment, it’s crucial to pay on time. Even being a few days late can negatively impact your score. Consider setting up automatic payments or calendar reminders to never miss a due date. Keep Your Credit Card Balances Low: High balances can negatively impact your score. Aim to use less than 30% of your credit limit on each card.
Don’t Close Unused Credit Cards: Closing an account can increase your credit utilization ratio, which can lower your score. Keep old accounts open, even if you’re not using them much. Limit New Credit Applications: Each time you apply for credit, it can cause a small dip in your score. This is because applying for a lot of new credit in a short period might look like you’re in financial trouble. Only apply for new credit if you really need it.
Check Your Credit Reports for Errors: Errors on your credit report can lower your score. You can get a free report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com. Review them for mistakes, like payments marked late when they were paid on time, or accounts that aren’t yours. If you find errors, dispute them.
Consider a Secured Credit Card: If you’re building credit from scratch or repairing bad credit, a secured credit card (backed by a cash deposit of $200 to $300) might be a good tool to show you can make regular, on-time payments. After a few months, your card issuer may automatically upgrade you to an unsecured credit card which will in turn improve your credit score. Pay Down “Maxed Out” Cards First: If any of your cards are maxed out or close to it, prioritize paying these down. High utilization on a single card can be particularly harmful to your credit score.
Summary
Improving your credit score usually takes between 4 to 12 months. If your score is from 650 to 700, you might reach 750 quicker, in a few months. If it’s under 650, it’ll take a bit longer. To improve your credit score faster, focus on paying bills on time, keeping your credit card balances low, not closing old credit cards, and not applying for new credit too often.
Struggling with your credit score? Credit Repair of Florida, a credit repair services company can help you out. We’ll guide you on how to improve it and fix any mistakes on your credit report. With our help, you can start seeing better credit scores. Contact us today for more information about our services.