It sure does!!!!! 
I noticed you mentioned in another forum that you have COs from HSBC. I highly doubt that those will hurt you if you apply for a Capital One card. They are paid COs right?
Capital One and its buyout of HSBC is still in the transitioning phase. I have read a few here that were approved through Cap1 with HSBC COs. I really think if you aren't going to buy for the next 3 months, you should apply for a credit card...it will help your score in the short term once you show you paid in full 2-3 times on time. You have not one CC, and that is hurting your score.
Paying off your student loans quicker will also hurt you as once your oldest account stops reporting active payments, your score will suffer.
I do think you want to wait until your mid fico is 660 because they typically do another hard pull right before closing and you don't want to not qualify at the end because you lost too many points from the inquiry.
The motto today is "buy high" because of how low the interest rates are. My mortgage payment will be $2460 per month the first year. $2160 per month years 2-5 because of income tax refund on interest paid, and $1814 per month years 6-30 because of tax refund and mortgage ins removal. So it if you buy a little higher in your affordability range and revamp your budget to support it for 5 years, your payment will be similar to a lower priced home after the first 5 years. If you have expenses you absolutely can't revamp, then this is probably not for you but if you can swing the higher payment for first 5 years, you will be rewarded for it with a lower monthly payment on a bigger house over the remainder of the loan.
Capital One and its buyout of HSBC is still in the transitioning phase. I have read a few here that were approved through Cap1 with HSBC COs. I really think if you aren't going to buy for the next 3 months, you should apply for a credit card...it will help your score in the short term once you show you paid in full 2-3 times on time. You have not one CC, and that is hurting your score.
Paying off your student loans quicker will also hurt you as once your oldest account stops reporting active payments, your score will suffer.
I do think you want to wait until your mid fico is 660 because they typically do another hard pull right before closing and you don't want to not qualify at the end because you lost too many points from the inquiry.
The motto today is "buy high" because of how low the interest rates are. My mortgage payment will be $2460 per month the first year. $2160 per month years 2-5 because of income tax refund on interest paid, and $1814 per month years 6-30 because of tax refund and mortgage ins removal. So it if you buy a little higher in your affordability range and revamp your budget to support it for 5 years, your payment will be similar to a lower priced home after the first 5 years. If you have expenses you absolutely can't revamp, then this is probably not for you but if you can swing the higher payment for first 5 years, you will be rewarded for it with a lower monthly payment on a bigger house over the remainder of the loan.
Cards: Orchard Bank ($1100) | Cap1 Cash Rewards ($2500) | Chase Freedom ($1000) | Best Buy ($2500) | Discover It ($1000) | Barclay Rewards ($2500) | Current scores: EX FAKO: 684, CK TU: 649, FICO EQ: 680, FICO TU: 698, FICO EX: 658 Happy Homeowner Since 2/6/13! 
Last App: 4/5/13 Gardening until July 2014
Keeping your student loans longer won't help with utilization, only your revolving credit card debt affects that. Your SLs help your AAOA, and as the balance lowers, it helps your debt to income ratio.
