Just wanted to provide another example of not needing to have a mortgage to be in the 800s [although I will likely get a mortgage in the next year or two-- kinda scary to think about!] I do have a cc w/15 years of age (I'm in my 30s).

Just a side note to HTSU, MV, Timothy, Fused (+ others who've posted a bunch): I just started posting but have read mucho, mucho, mucho on these boards and REALLY appreciate all of the wonderful, insightful, humourous, knowledgeable posts you've posted. I really appreciate all of the energy you put into helping others. Thanks so much!!

We're glad you're here, and I know the others would also say thanks for the kind comments.

As an 800+'er, prepare to have your brain picked!

More than happy to answer any questions..... but can't promise anything close to "Posts: 3731" (and counting) )

htsu- thanks so much for posting all of these characteristics, I have previously been recording them too but definitely didn't have as many as you and I think they are so helpful.

I am wondering about the '$1200 balance on non-mortgage account'; this one has always struck me as strangely low, especially when considering outstanding auto loans. I googled 'fico high achiever balance' and saw this (on the 3rd entry): "FICO® High Achievers [?] have an average total balance of $5000 on non-mortgage accounts." I've never seen this anywhere else but it does come from an official example from myfico. What do you think?

I think it's very weird, too. I know that FICO had to use historical data to create their scoring model, and so there is some built-in datedness, but it's as if FICO High Achievers were two-thirds of the way through financing their Dodge Darts.

FWIW, installment just doesn't carry that much weight in scoring. It's nice that it's there, and presumably you would lose some points for three $30+K car loans, but there's no way in these days of student loans and expensive cars that these figures would hold.

One guess: maybe they're actually referring to small personal loans?

By the way, Midnight Voice started this list long ago. I wound up having a different set of comments, being far below him in scores and far ahead of him in lates, so I wound up merging my list into his, and then searching the forums for any other comments, and glued it all together. God bless copy/ paste! If you still have that $5000 comment handy, could you please c/p it here? I'd like to add it to the list. thanks!

Ahhh, the true secret to HA status: Go back in time and finance a Dart with a 25 year loan!! Btw, would someone tell me how to make the smiley with the big/open mouth? Thanks


Great, then many thanks to MV for initially compiling this list. Here is an exact quote:

Your FICO® score considers how much you owe on your credit accounts, such as revolving credit accounts [?] and non-mortgage installment loans [?]. Generally, the more you owe on these accounts, the greater risk you pose to lenders.

FICO® High Achievers [?] have an average total balance of $5000 on non-mortgage accounts.

Thanks for the quote! I will add it to the list.

Bet you're on Firefox. If you ever log on through Internet Explorer, you'll see an array of goodies, including a graphical editor with smilies. We get a spell check!

Anyway, I'm going to list the symbols and how you create them in FF. I have to put in spaces, or they'll just convert again, but when you do them, leave out the spaces.

: )
; )
: P
: D
:smiley mad:
: | (on my laptop, this is the shift up on the \ key --it looks like two tiny vertical lines, one atop the other)

Oh, thanks so much; yep, on Firefox. Ok, let me take one for a spin:


So a guy walks into the library and says to the librarian: "I'd like a coke, some fries, and a big burger."

Librarian says: "SIR, you are in a library!!!"

Guy: [cowering and lowering his voice to a wisper]: "Oh, sorrrrrry....... I'd like a coke, some fries, and a big burger."



or maybe: