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I am fairly new to this website and I keep seeing everybody saying that they are gardening till a certain date?
What does that mean?
Thanks!
Yes to what Lexie just said. The idea is that lenders want to see how you're managing your current accounts. If you've just applied for a bunch of new accounts, they have no idea how well you'll be managing them until they've gained a bit of history. This is especially important if you don't have a very long history, showing other old, well managed accounts. Thus the term "gardening" -- you just sit back and allow what you have to take root and grow.
@xgac12x wrote:I am fairly new to this website and I keep seeing everybody saying that they are gardening till a certain date?
What does that mean?
Thanks!
For those who are new to the concept of gardening, it involves refraining from applying for new credit or seeking CLIs that require hard pulls. Soft pulls CLIs, however, are not only acceptable, but are encouraged. The idea is to allow one's current TLs to grow and mature, waiting for inqs to age or fall off, and possibly waiting for "baddies" to be removed or age off. During this time, one tends to one's current accounts and watches their AAoA grow and the new credit ding fade.
From here: http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Garden-Club-Meeting-July-2013/td-p/2259577
yeah i caught on to that quickly myself. I'm technically in the garden until 3/15, but reality is i'll be in the garden for another 2 months while i'm still applying for a job and finding myself a home haha
Oh okay thanks. Yeah I'm trying to build my portfolio as well managed as possible, not applying too often, and not over utilizating the cards I currently have. I got my Discover it card back in March of 2013, and just recently got my Capital One Secured (06/13), and I am looking to get another in the future and then stop applying for a while as I am leaving for college soon. How long do you guys think I should wait before applying for a new unsecured credit card, and what card do you guys recommend? Something with no annual fee, maybe rewards, doesnt matter to me though. Currently have a 666 ex score with no late payments, etc
Thanks
Try to let only one card report balance (1-9% util). You should be able to get CapOne Newcomer card in 6 months time. Try for discover cli first and let it report and then apply for any new cards. Discover is one the best rewards card in the market.
1 year it affects FICO scoring
2 years for the inquiry to fall off your report