Can getting an auto loan help my credit score end of this year

[Anonymous]

First thank you all for the wonderful information on this board. I am planning to get a better mortgage rate end of this year. Will my credit score increase if I get an auto loan (around 20,000) right now? What is the best strategy to pay off the auto loan, pay more every month but keep some balance end of this year, or pay off end of this year, or just pay the exactly amount? thanks, Michael

[Anonymous]

Do you think you can get the car after the mortgage?  The auto loan may help with your credit mix but, it will lower your debt to income ratio when apping for the mortgage...

[Anonymous]

We can pay off the auto loan by the time we buy house, which means the auto loan will not increase the debt/income ratio. In this case if this auto loan can help us on improving the credit score, we can get better rate.