on the question of student loans....yeah i was in mortgage industry as a processor and jr underwriter. Your student loans need to have a good 1 yr pay history along with your credit history. May move up to 2 yrs so just beware. Also, if student loan is in collections, work on rehab to get out and on pay schedule because that is what the u/w will look for. Also, make sure you are counting the payments in your DTI for housing purposes when you apply. The only way they(mortgage lender) will not count it is if it is deferred for a yr from date of closing then the payment doesnt count against you. That is only if you apply for FHA. If you go conventional, they count it regardless if you are or are not in deferrment. Also, I am with the other poster who said go to your billling and ask them to pull debt and work out pay off so that will come off credit. They will more than likely since you are an employee. Good Luck on the house. Please let me know if I can help or answer any questions. Oh, and FHA use to not credit score but you have to have at least a 580 now from what I am told. Before you could have 480 and as long as your pay history was good for last 12 months you were in. So much has changed with mortgage woo....