Quick ways to improve scores

[Anonymous]

Fifth third - $1500 (account is closed, it will be paid off in four more payments)
Capital one - $0 (this card is actuve for me to use with a $750 balance)

[castlefox]

Currently your utilization is 200%.  Usually a bank/credit union wants to see utilization under 20%, lower is even better. 

IMO,  The best way to raise your score is to pay down that closed fifth third account, (if you have an emergency savings saved up already).

What is your current credit score?  Where did you get your credit score from?

[tntexans72]

Like OP have stated...UTIL % account for about 30% on your fico reports...pay down your UTIL % to under 10% and let them report. Your score should get a nice jump.

[Revelate]

If you have a 401K or other retirement account, see about taking a loan against it and using that to pay off the debt (basically refinancing yourself), or see about a loan against your car / house / other asset.  

I don't quite know how closed accounts affect your utilization, but assuming that it is, the quicker it's paid off the better.  That and the Goodwill letters (check the Rebuilding forum) are your only avenues towards quick score boosts... unfortunately when trying to get a mortgage in short order, opening up another account or two probably is going to hurt you more than help you over that time period.

Is there any reason you can't delay the mortgage shopping?  How are you coming up with the downpayment if you don't have the money to write a check for the $1500 immediately?  More time would give you more options such as opening up another CC and perhaps some sort of installment loan as well.

[JustMe77]

If you can pay down that debt quicker, you will see a much quicker jump in your FICO. Start selling stuff to pay it off quicker.

[Creditdreamer]

Just FYI all: <br><br>

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/User-Guidelines-General/Common-Abbreviations/td-p/88458

[Gollum]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I need my score to increase by 18pts. Anyone have any quick tips to get there? I've paid everything on time for over a year and will have all my debt paid off in four months but I need that score to move before then!!

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You can't outwit FICO scoring algorithms.  Your FICO score will increase after you pay down/off your debt.