I've been all over the threads the past couple weeks getting amazing tips and feedback from everyone. I think I've finally figured out what cards I'm going to go for on my app spree once my house closes a week from today (Just got the clear to close Tuesday and they moved the closing date up a day). Here's my plan, and the applications will be done in this order:
- BarclayCard Rewards Mastercard (First since I've read that they are inquiry sensitive)
- Lowe's (I need this card probably more than any other card because of all we need to do for the house)
- Blispay (After seeing so many people getting approved for it, I finally looked it up and it looks legit. Plus they solely pull Ex, which is my best score and report)
- Discover It (They appear to be BK and inquiry friendly, plus I want to add a different card since I likely won't be able to get an AMEX for another couple years)
- QuicksilverONE and Venture Combo (I was just going to go for the QuicksilverONE, but since it will only be a single HP, I figured I might as well just try for both)
- FICO8: EQ: 686, TU: 703, EX: 702.
- Bank Card Score 8 EQ: 670, TU 697, EX: 693
- FICO8 Mortgage Score: EQ: 688, TU: 715, EX: 666
- Background history: ch7 BK discharged 12/2013
- 2 collections from 2011 both only showing on TU, one paid, the other not paid (medical only $130). Other than those, totally clean besides the inquiries.
- Currently have a First Premier Card (secured) with $300 CL, opened July 2015, no lates, util under 10%
- Currently have a Cap One (secured) with $500 CL. Opened May 2015 with $200, raised to $500 after 6 months. No lates, util under 10%
- Inquiries in the last 2 years: Ex: 4 (3 from mortgage shopping in January, 1 from my Capital One last April), TU: 4 (Same as Ex), Eq: 11 (5 in the past 12 months, 3 from mortgage shopping in January, 1 from Paypal last July and 1 from First Premier last June)
So that's it. How does my card selection look? Too many? Good mix? Bad mix? Aim for better cards? I've done a lot of research, I just want to finalize my decision. Once I'm done, in the garden I go likely for at least 12 months.
Thanks.
Capital One SavorOne: $3000 / Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Visa Signature: $500 / Mission Lane: $2500 / Merrick: $2000 / CreditOne Amex: $850
I know my scores are good enough for those cards, but my BK, Collections and low limits on my current cards have scared me away from attempting those.
The main reason I'm not going for the prime QS and the VentureONE is because of my history and low limits on current cards. I'm doing the Capital One cards last because they pull all 3 bureaus, and the first few only pull specific ones. I would love to do those first, but since they pull all 3, I'm saving those for last.
That's a good point. I might just see how the first apps go first and go from there. If I get good SL's on the other cards, I'll likely swing for the fences on the Cap1 cards. If my other cards for some reason don't go as well, then I'll likely just go for a base hit on the Cap1 cards just to ensure approval.