Hi there! I've been reading these forums for a while, but finally worked up the courage to post my own question 
I started focusing on repairing my credit earlier this year. For several years (2008-2013), I was young and dumb about making payments on time. I had several 30 day late payments on an auto loan and student loan.
In 2014, I started my own business and had the means to be much more responsible about making payments on time and actually putting money into savings. I have paid off all my student loans and carry a less than 10% balance on all my credit cards. The only loan I have currently on my credit report is my husband's truck (he is also on the loan).
My goal is to apply for a construction loan in the next 3-6 months.
My current mortgage scores are EQ: 629, TU: 677, EX: 611
Fico 8 scores are EQ: 651, TU: 660, EX: 663
I have two collections on my credit report that popped up in May of this year (a $30 and $50 bill from GoDaddy that I wasn't even aware of). I got the CA to agree to a PFD, and they have already been removed from EX. My EX score didn't budget when the collections were removed.
I also have a 120 late payment reporting on EQ and EX for August and September 2015. I was paying off smaller student loans, and this loan was in deferment. I have called the student loan company to request that the late pays be removed, but they won't budge...even though I have letters that acknowledge the deferment. I paid off this loan in April of this year.
If I can't get the student loan company to remove the 120 late entry, is there anything else I can do to get my score to 680-700 in the next 3 months? I've read in some of the forums to pay off all credit cards to a $0 balance, except for one card and keep that card at under 10% utilization. Is this my best bet, or is there anything else I can do to improve my scores?
Other than the 120 late pay and two collections, I don't have any other derogatory marks in the last two years.
Thanks in advance for your time!
