AAoA - When to Apply?

[VintageMel]

Please forgive me if this wasn't the right place to post this.  I am hoping to get some advice on when to apply for my next card.  The short story is that I have pretty solid scores (which are about to take a slight ding), a fairly thin file, and a lackluster average account age.  Last month I got a new lease for a car (yay!) which is what I expect to cause the slight ding once it shows up on my reports.

I just upgraded my AmEx from a BCE to a BCP, which is a card I've wanted for a while, so I'm really pleased with that.  My only other card is a CapOne QS.  At some point I would like to open another card or two to flesh out my file, and preferably to take the place of the Cap1 as my other main driver.  I have my eye on a Citi DC for that purpose.

Shoud I apply for a new card soon to have two new accounts around the same age (car lease + new card), or should I wait a few months or more to let my other accounts age a bit more, and let my scores recover from whatever hit they take from the new loan?

Here is a bit more data:

EX 773, 2 inquiries (almost 1 year, and 2 years old)

EQ 770 (CK Vantage), 0 inquiries

TU 763 (CK Vantage.  I'm thinking I might hold off until the new lease shows up before I pay for FICO scores), 2 inquiries, both for new lease 3 days apart

6 total accounts, 4 open, 2 closed (not counting new lease)

Auto opened 5/2007 (closed) - 13 years

Auto opened 6/2017 (open for now, but should change to closed any day now) - 2 years, 11 months

Cap1 opened 3/2017 - 3 years, 3 months

AmEx opened 7/2019 - 11 months

Mortgage opened 8/2018, 1 year, 10 months

Home Equity opened 7/2018 1 year, 11 months (closed a month after it opened)

And just to be thorough my utilization is at 1%.

I also wanted to ask, do you get any significant bump when accounts cross the threshold into 1 year, or 2 years old, instead of 11 months, or 1 year 10 months?

[AllZero]

$1 you can obtain your 3 bureau FICO 8 scores and reports at Experian or CreditCheckTotal (part of Experian). Cancel in 7 day or less to avoid the re-occurring monthly charge. Wash, Rinse, and Repeat as needed.

AnnualCreditReport. Free weekly 3 bureau online reports through April 2021.

[AllZero]

The Best 2% Card Showdown 

[AllZero]

I would recommend reading the below from Birdman7
General Scoring Primer and Version 8 Master Thread rev.5.17.20

[M_Smart007]

Hi @VintageMel and Welcome to the forums!

Just My $0.02 worth, your scores profile look good to me

1% Util. is great, If it were Me I would apply for the Citi DC if that is what you want/can use.

I have two Citi DC Cards and they get a fair amount of use.

Good Luck .. You will get some other's opinion's .. weigh them out.

I only lost a few points when I went below three years AAoA .. nothing big.

[M_Smart007]

 @AllZero , Post 3 macro post while I type

[AllZero]

To answer your question, apply when you need the revolving credit now or later, up to you. Your FICO score appear fine.

Check the CITI prequal to see if you have any offers.

[VintageMel]

I did consider pulling them through Experian and then cancelling, but as far as I can see you have to call them to cancel.  I have a deep loathing of having to call.  I've wasted too many hours of my life doing that as it is. 

[AllZero]

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@M_Smart007 wrote:

 @AllZero , Post 3 macro post while I type

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I had more but I think @VintageMel  may get information overload.

[M_Smart007]

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@AllZero wrote:

To answer your question, apply when you need the revolving credit now or later, up to you. Your FICO score appear fine.

Check the CITI prequal to see if you have any offers.

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Citi Pre Qual is not that accurate, seen people not pre qualify, then cold app approved. JMHO