My first app spree ever!

[pinkandgrey]

I’m thinking of doing my VERY FIRST app spree. This would obviously lead to serious gardening for awhile. Soooo.... my question is: how exactly does one go about doing an app spree with the best chance for success? Of course I’m aware of the effects on the credit score, hence the gardening immediately afterwards. 

Any tips from seasoned spree-ers? 

Thanks!

DPs if you want:

scores between 720 and 750

Income 32k

2-3 inqs per bureau

AAoA a little over a year 

Approx 3 total years of credit history 

[Jnbmom]

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@pinkandgrey wrote:

I’m thinking of doing my VERY FIRST app spree. This would obviously lead to serious gardening for awhile. Soooo.... my question is: how exactly does one go about doing an app spree with the best chance for success? Of course I’m aware of the effects on the credit score, hence the gardening immediately afterwards. 

Any tips from seasoned spree-ers? 

Thanks!

DPs if you want:

scores between 720 and 750

Income 32k

2-3 inqs per bureau

AAoA a little over a year 

Approx 3 total years of credit history 

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What cards do you have now? Discover and amex don't mind thin files. Have you tried their prequalify sites? It really depends on what cards you would benefit from the most and what you currently have in order to give you more specific suggestions.

[Anonymous]

What credit lines do you currently have?

Banks/lenders have developed very sophisticated tools to quickly detect credit seeking so these days app sprees aren't really a good idea.  But I suppose you'll have to find out for yourself.

[Anonymous]

If you do an app spree (which, like @MaizeandBlue, I wouldn't recommend given the changed environment regarding "credit seekers" these days), you should, above all else, have a solid idea of exactly what cards you want to get. After that, be up to date on your scores and your overall credit reports so that you know about any potential pitfalls, and make sure that there aren't any other things (like Chase's 5/24 rule) that might impede your project.

Better, really, to try to tough it out a while longer; the more time you can put in to let your accounts grow and manage your credit, the better position you'll be in to get the card(s) that you really want. For me, it's one of NFCU's cards, preferably CashRewards. Even though NFCU is a pretty easygoing and generous lender, particularly with rebuilders like me (though my rebuild is well along), I'm still giving it at least a 6-month gardening period from the end of this past June through at least New Year's to develop my profile and age my accounts and inquiries.

[xaximus]

It depends on what cards you are looking for. I would be careful in apping for cards just to have them. Select 2-3 cards that you can actually use and justify getting them. Then make a plan and know what bureau each one hits so you can manage your inquiries. Once you know that, you can apply. I would be careful though since your AAoA is relatively short and you dont want AA or denials. I would recommend apping for one and giving it 6 months then apping for another. Also, your income may come up in getting high SL's since credit generally goes hand in hand with income (not always the case but most of the time, income is and can be important).

[Anonymous]

As others suggested just check if you prequalify first. My second card was an AMEX after building up a bit of credit with my first so might be good to try them. Also, I don't think you need to go on "major" gardening. Yes, your credit will take an impact but since all the applications are within the same time period, all of them should disappear from your credit history at the same time as well around 2 years later.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest looking at preapproved offers. Check Amex, even with an APR range I was able to get a few cards at once and it's a high chance of it being a SP. You'll have to do some research and see where the inquiries of the cards you're intrested will land and try to spread them out.

[pinkandgrey]

Thanks to everybody! I already have a Discover It with a 14.4k limit, an AMEX BCE with an 18k limit, a Barclays Apple with a 4k limit, and a GM Buypower with a 5k limit

[SweetCreditObsession]

Apply for Chase first if you're interested in them.

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

Consider if the cards you want have sign up bonuses and whether you could do 3 or 4 at the same time. It'll be a waste of a SUB if you can't.