I've been working my tail off since January to boost my mortgage scores as we prepare for our purchase of a new home. I worked to get my only collection removed in a pay for deletion back in February. That boosted me from 687 to 719 (EX 748 TU 719, EF 707). I had 7 revolving accounts reporting a balance, all of them over 48.9% including 2 cards maxed out. I paid that down to 2/7 reporting a balance and getting aggregate under 28.9%. Here are my revolvers in april vs. my most recent credit report:
April 2020:
| Account | Balance | Limit | Ratio | APR |
| Walmart | $1,205.00 | $1,450.00 | 83.1% | 22.90% |
| Paypal | $2,140.00 | $2,500.00 | 85.6% | 25.49% |
| Venture | $2,960.00 | $7,000.00 | 42.3% | 17.99% |
| Amazon | $5,827.00 | $6,000.00 | 97.1% | 27.49% |
| Amex | $6,045.00 | $8,500.00 | 71.1% | 22.49% |
| QuickSilver | $2,185.00 | $9,000.00 | 24.3% | 22.99% |
| CareCredit | $0.00 | $10,000.00 | 0.0% | 21.49% |
| Total | $20,110.00 | $45,450.00 | 45.8% | 22.98% |
Actions taken, gradually over the past 3 months. all these changes are reporting accurately on all 3 bureau reports:
- Paid Walmart in full
- Paid Paypal in full; CLI of $1000
- Paid Venture in full; CLI of $750
- Paid Quicksilver in full; CLI of $1000
- Paid Amazon down to 4991; CLI of $2000
- Paid Amex down to $5262
- Carecredit CLI of $10,000
I had hoped for a big boost across the board, as this jumped my Fico8 50+ points across the board. Equifax saw a huge boost (+48). Transunion modest (+9) and Experian with a big kick to the nuts (+1). My revolvers now show as:
| Account | Balance | Limit | Ratio | APR | AoA |
| Walmart | $0.00 | $1,450.00 | 0.0% | 22.90% | 4 yrs, 5 mos |
| Paypal | $0.00 | $3,500.00 | 0.0% | 25.49% | 5 yrs, 0 mos |
| Venture | $0.00 | $7,750.00 | 0.0% | 17.99% | 1 yrs, 9 mos |
| Amazon | $4,662.00 | $8,000.00 | 58.3% | 27.49% | 2 yrs, 8 mos |
| Amex | $5,331.00 | $8,500.00 | 62.7% | 22.49% | 3 yrs, 3 mos |
| QuickSilver | $0.00 | $10,000.00 | 0.0% | 22.99% | 6 yrs, 4 mos |
| CareCredit | $0.00 | $20,000.00 | 0.0% | 21.49% | 4 yrs, 9 mos |
| Total | $9,993.00 | $59,200.00 | 16.9% | 22.98% |
I had hoped with this my Experian would have topped 760 and a second would be right there. but now its seems like Experian just wont move and it may end up my low score when its all said and done. Here is the rest of my report details:
Scorecard: Clean/Thick/Aged
Installments:
- Navient: $32,109 | Never late | 17 years, 8 months old
- Navient: $2,544 | Never late | 17 years, 2 months old
- CapOne Auto: $17,878 | Never Late | 1 year, 2 months old
Derrogatories: 0 collections, 0 lates, 0 charges off, 0 negative remarks
Hard Inqueries: 9 (2 older than 12 months)
Not sure what my best path to 760 middle score is. AZEO seems to be the common sense blind advice by experian gave me no boost with enormous movement on paying off revolvers with a balance or crossing thresholds and TU was a bit stingy too. I no longer have the cash reserves to throw big money at these. so its organic $800 a month payments (total) to go towards debt. that includes a minimum $295 to navient.
I could try and pay off the lower navient installment first. that would potentialy hurt my aging, as its 17 year accound. Or i could try and pay off the amazon. I could balance transfer $1500 of it to the amex and then work on the remaning $3000. that would put the amex at max util but get me at AZEO.
not sure if antyhing else could help, as a new line of credit would seem to piss off an underwriter.
For those who have crossed 760 recently, what did it and what help you see the biggest boosts, specifically on transunion?
@Anonymous wrote:
I've been working my tail off since January to boost my mortgage scores as we prepare for our purchase of a new home. I worked to get my only collection removed in a pay for deletion back in February. That boosted me from 687 to 719 (EX 748 TU 719, EF 707). I had 7 revolving accounts reporting a balance, all of them over 48.9% including 2 cards maxed out. I paid that down to 2/7 reporting a balance and getting aggregate under 28.9%. Here are my revolvers in april vs. my most recent credit report:
April 2020:
Account Balance Limit Ratio APR Walmart $1,205.00 $1,450.00 83.1% 22.90% Paypal $2,140.00 $2,500.00 85.6% 25.49% Venture $2,960.00 $7,000.00 42.3% 17.99% Amazon $5,827.00 $6,000.00 97.1% 27.49% Amex $6,045.00 $8,500.00 71.1% 22.49% QuickSilver $2,185.00 $9,000.00 24.3% 22.99% CareCredit $0.00 $10,000.00 0.0% 21.49% Total $20,110.00 $45,450.00 45.8% 22.98%
Actions taken, gradually over the past 3 months. all these changes are reporting accurately on all 3 bureau reports:
- Paid Walmart in full
- Paid Paypal in full; CLI of $1000
- Paid Venture in full; CLI of $750
- Paid Quicksilver in full; CLI of $1000
- Paid Amazon down to 4991; CLI of $2000
- Paid Amex down to $5262
- Carecredit CLI of $10,000
I had hoped for a big boost across the board, as this jumped my Fico8 50+ points across the board. Equifax saw a huge boost (+48). Transunion modest (+9) and Experian with a big kick to the nuts (+1). My revolvers now show as:
Account Balance Limit Ratio APR AoA Walmart $0.00 $1,450.00 0.0% 22.90% 4 yrs, 5 mos Paypal $0.00 $3,500.00 0.0% 25.49% 5 yrs, 0 mos Venture $0.00 $7,750.00 0.0% 17.99% 1 yrs, 9 mos Amazon $4,662.00 $8,000.00 58.3% 27.49% 2 yrs, 8 mos Amex $5,331.00 $8,500.00 62.7% 22.49% 3 yrs, 3 mos QuickSilver $0.00 $10,000.00 0.0% 22.99% 6 yrs, 4 mos CareCredit $0.00 $20,000.00 0.0% 21.49% 4 yrs, 9 mos Total $9,993.00 $59,200.00 16.9% 22.98%
I had hoped with this my Experian would have topped 760 and a second would be right there. but now its seems like Experian just wont move and it may end up my low score when its all said and done. Here is the rest of my report details:
Scorecard: Clean/Thick/Aged
Installments:
- Navient: $32,109 | Never late | 17 years, 8 months old
- Navient: $2,544 | Never late | 17 years, 2 months old
- CapOne Auto: $17,878 | Never Late | 1 year, 2 months old
Derrogatories: 0 collections, 0 lates, 0 charges off, 0 negative remarks
Hard Inqueries: 9 (2 older than 12 months)
Not sure what my best path to 760 middle score is. AZEO seems to be the common sense blind advice by experian gave me no boost with enormous movement on paying off revolvers with a balance or crossing thresholds and TU was a bit stingy too. I no longer have the cash reserves to throw big money at these. so its organic $800 a month payments (total) to go towards debt. that includes a minimum $295 to navient.
I could try and pay off the lower navient installment first. that would potentialy hurt my aging, as its 17 year accound. Or i could try and pay off the amazon. I could balance transfer $1500 of it to the amex and then work on the remaning $3000. that would put the amex at max util but get me at AZEO.
not sure if antyhing else could help, as a new line of credit would seem to piss off an underwriter.
For those who have crossed 760 recently, what did it and what help you see the biggest boosts, specifically on transunion?
You note that you have 9 hard INQ and 2 older than 12 months but your youngest account is over a year?
When I had 7 revolvers there was an 8 point difference with EX2 between 1 reporting and 2. Whether or not you have an account younger than a year which still stings with MTG scores, the 7 INQ's within 12 months generates the credit seeking reason code and may be a big part of what's hurting you. With no lates or other derogs within the last 7 years I assume INQ's, UTL and # of accounts reporting is what's holding you back. I find it difficult to find INST threshholds, particularly with more than 1. But reducing that may also help.
You state you don't have a lot to throw at your debt but try taking Amazon down below 49% (ensure interest doesn't take you above 48.95%). And if possible the same for Amex.
Wishing you the best of luck with your scores and future home purchase.
@Trudy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I've been working my tail off since January to boost my mortgage scores as we prepare for our purchase of a new home. I worked to get my only collection removed in a pay for deletion back in February. That boosted me from 687 to 719 (EX 748 TU 719, EF 707). I had 7 revolving accounts reporting a balance, all of them over 48.9% including 2 cards maxed out. I paid that down to 2/7 reporting a balance and getting aggregate under 28.9%. Here are my revolvers in april vs. my most recent credit report:
April 2020:
Account Balance Limit Ratio APR Walmart $1,205.00 $1,450.00 83.1% 22.90% Paypal $2,140.00 $2,500.00 85.6% 25.49% Venture $2,960.00 $7,000.00 42.3% 17.99% Amazon $5,827.00 $6,000.00 97.1% 27.49% Amex $6,045.00 $8,500.00 71.1% 22.49% QuickSilver $2,185.00 $9,000.00 24.3% 22.99% CareCredit $0.00 $10,000.00 0.0% 21.49% Total $20,110.00 $45,450.00 45.8% 22.98%
Actions taken, gradually over the past 3 months. all these changes are reporting accurately on all 3 bureau reports:
- Paid Walmart in full
- Paid Paypal in full; CLI of $1000
- Paid Venture in full; CLI of $750
- Paid Quicksilver in full; CLI of $1000
- Paid Amazon down to 4991; CLI of $2000
- Paid Amex down to $5262
- Carecredit CLI of $10,000
I had hoped for a big boost across the board, as this jumped my Fico8 50+ points across the board. Equifax saw a huge boost (+48). Transunion modest (+9) and Experian with a big kick to the nuts (+1). My revolvers now show as:
Account Balance Limit Ratio APR AoA Walmart $0.00 $1,450.00 0.0% 22.90% 4 yrs, 5 mos Paypal $0.00 $3,500.00 0.0% 25.49% 5 yrs, 0 mos Venture $0.00 $7,750.00 0.0% 17.99% 1 yrs, 9 mos Amazon $4,662.00 $8,000.00 58.3% 27.49% 2 yrs, 8 mos Amex $5,331.00 $8,500.00 62.7% 22.49% 3 yrs, 3 mos QuickSilver $0.00 $10,000.00 0.0% 22.99% 6 yrs, 4 mos CareCredit $0.00 $20,000.00 0.0% 21.49% 4 yrs, 9 mos Total $9,993.00 $59,200.00 16.9% 22.98%
I had hoped with this my Experian would have topped 760 and a second would be right there. but now its seems like Experian just wont move and it may end up my low score when its all said and done. Here is the rest of my report details:
Scorecard: Clean/Thick/Aged
Installments:
- Navient: $32,109 | Never late | 17 years, 8 months old
- Navient: $2,544 | Never late | 17 years, 2 months old
- CapOne Auto: $17,878 | Never Late | 1 year, 2 months old
Derrogatories: 0 collections, 0 lates, 0 charges off, 0 negative remarks
Hard Inqueries: 9 (2 older than 12 months)
Not sure what my best path to 760 middle score is. AZEO seems to be the common sense blind advice by experian gave me no boost with enormous movement on paying off revolvers with a balance or crossing thresholds and TU was a bit stingy too. I no longer have the cash reserves to throw big money at these. so its organic $800 a month payments (total) to go towards debt. that includes a minimum $295 to navient.
I could try and pay off the lower navient installment first. that would potentialy hurt my aging, as its 17 year accound. Or i could try and pay off the amazon. I could balance transfer $1500 of it to the amex and then work on the remaning $3000. that would put the amex at max util but get me at AZEO.
not sure if antyhing else could help, as a new line of credit would seem to piss off an underwriter.
For those who have crossed 760 recently, what did it and what help you see the biggest boosts, specifically on transunion?
You note that you have 9 hard INQ and 2 older than 12 months but your youngest account is over a year?
When I had 7 revolvers there was an 8 point difference with EX2 between 1 reporting and 2. Whether or not you have an account younger than a year which still stings with MTG scores, the 7 INQ's within 12 months generates the credit seeking reason code and may be a big part of what's hurting you. With no lates or other derogs within the last 7 years I assume INQ's, UTL and # of accounts reporting is what's holding you back. I find it difficult to find INST threshholds, particularly with more than 1. But reducing that may also help.
You state you don't have a lot to throw at your debt but try taking Amazon down below 49% (ensure interest doesn't take you above 48.95%). And if possible the same for Amex.
Wishing you the best of luck with your scores and future home purchase.
The 2 inqueries where HPs from the mortgage company in january and march. i havent bought a home yet, so no new account associated with those. i had 2 HPs from cap one for my car, but that aged to a year in march.
Excellent advice up thread.
When is the last time you checked for SP CLI? Perhaps, that will help you lower your individual and/or aggregate utilization past a scoreable threshold.
@Anonymous wrote:
I've been working my tail off since January to boost my mortgage scores as we prepare for our purchase of a new home. I worked to get my only collection removed in a pay for deletion back in February. That boosted me from 687 to 719 (EX 748 TU 719, EF 707). I had 7 revolving accounts reporting a balance, all of them over 48.9% including 2 cards maxed out. I paid that down to 2/7 reporting a balance and getting aggregate under 28.9%. Here are my revolvers in april vs. my most recent credit report:
April 2020:
Account Balance Limit Ratio APR Walmart $1,205.00 $1,450.00 83.1% 22.90% Paypal $2,140.00 $2,500.00 85.6% 25.49% Venture $2,960.00 $7,000.00 42.3% 17.99% Amazon $5,827.00 $6,000.00 97.1% 27.49% Amex $6,045.00 $8,500.00 71.1% 22.49% QuickSilver $2,185.00 $9,000.00 24.3% 22.99% CareCredit $0.00 $10,000.00 0.0% 21.49% Total $20,110.00 $45,450.00 45.8% 22.98%
Actions taken, gradually over the past 3 months. all these changes are reporting accurately on all 3 bureau reports:
- Paid Walmart in full
- Paid Paypal in full; CLI of $1000
- Paid Venture in full; CLI of $750
- Paid Quicksilver in full; CLI of $1000
- Paid Amazon down to 4991; CLI of $2000
- Paid Amex down to $5262
- Carecredit CLI of $10,000
I had hoped for a big boost across the board, as this jumped my Fico8 50+ points across the board. Equifax saw a huge boost (+48). Transunion modest (+9) and Experian with a big kick to the nuts (+1). My revolvers now show as:
Account Balance Limit Ratio APR AoA Walmart $0.00 $1,450.00 0.0% 22.90% 4 yrs, 5 mos Paypal $0.00 $3,500.00 0.0% 25.49% 5 yrs, 0 mos Venture $0.00 $7,750.00 0.0% 17.99% 1 yrs, 9 mos Amazon $4,662.00 $8,000.00 58.3% 27.49% 2 yrs, 8 mos Amex $5,331.00 $8,500.00 62.7% 22.49% 3 yrs, 3 mos QuickSilver $0.00 $10,000.00 0.0% 22.99% 6 yrs, 4 mos CareCredit $0.00 $20,000.00 0.0% 21.49% 4 yrs, 9 mos Total $9,993.00 $59,200.00 16.9% 22.98%
I had hoped with this my Experian would have topped 760 and a second would be right there. but now its seems like Experian just wont move and it may end up my low score when its all said and done. Here is the rest of my report details:
Scorecard: Clean/Thick/Aged
Installments:
- Navient: $32,109 | Never late | 17 years, 8 months old
- Navient: $2,544 | Never late | 17 years, 2 months old
- CapOne Auto: $17,878 | Never Late | 1 year, 2 months old
Derrogatories: 0 collections, 0 lates, 0 charges off, 0 negative remarks
Hard Inqueries: 9 (2 older than 12 months)
Not sure what my best path to 760 middle score is. AZEO seems to be the common sense blind advice by experian gave me no boost with enormous movement on paying off revolvers with a balance or crossing thresholds and TU was a bit stingy too. I no longer have the cash reserves to throw big money at these. so its organic $800 a month payments (total) to go towards debt. that includes a minimum $295 to navient.
I could try and pay off the lower navient installment first. that would potentialy hurt my aging, as its 17 year accound. Or i could try and pay off the amazon. I could balance transfer $1500 of it to the amex and then work on the remaning $3000. that would put the amex at max util but get me at AZEO.
not sure if antyhing else could help, as a new line of credit would seem to piss off an underwriter.
For those who have crossed 760 recently, what did it and what help you see the biggest boosts, specifically on transunion?
IMHO there's nothing you can do in the near term to get your middle mortgage score up that high
The main thing now is aging.
You should definitely continue paying down Amex and Amazon cards. When they get each down to 28% or lower, and your aggregate revolving utilization is down to 6% or lower, then you will have accomplished almost all of what you can accomplish with revolving utilization.
If you can get your aggregate installment utilization down to 9% you might pick up a few points there too.
@SouthJamaica wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I've been working my tail off since January to boost my mortgage scores as we prepare for our purchase of a new home. I worked to get my only collection removed in a pay for deletion back in February. That boosted me from 687 to 719 (EX 748 TU 719, EF 707). I had 7 revolving accounts reporting a balance, all of them over 48.9% including 2 cards maxed out. I paid that down to 2/7 reporting a balance and getting aggregate under 28.9%. Here are my revolvers in april vs. my most recent credit report:
April 2020:
Account Balance Limit Ratio APR Walmart $1,205.00 $1,450.00 83.1% 22.90% Paypal $2,140.00 $2,500.00 85.6% 25.49% Venture $2,960.00 $7,000.00 42.3% 17.99% Amazon $5,827.00 $6,000.00 97.1% 27.49% Amex $6,045.00 $8,500.00 71.1% 22.49% QuickSilver $2,185.00 $9,000.00 24.3% 22.99% CareCredit $0.00 $10,000.00 0.0% 21.49% Total $20,110.00 $45,450.00 45.8% 22.98%
Actions taken, gradually over the past 3 months. all these changes are reporting accurately on all 3 bureau reports:
- Paid Walmart in full
- Paid Paypal in full; CLI of $1000
- Paid Venture in full; CLI of $750
- Paid Quicksilver in full; CLI of $1000
- Paid Amazon down to 4991; CLI of $2000
- Paid Amex down to $5262
- Carecredit CLI of $10,000
I had hoped for a big boost across the board, as this jumped my Fico8 50+ points across the board. Equifax saw a huge boost (+48). Transunion modest (+9) and Experian with a big kick to the nuts (+1). My revolvers now show as:
Account Balance Limit Ratio APR AoA Walmart $0.00 $1,450.00 0.0% 22.90% 4 yrs, 5 mos Paypal $0.00 $3,500.00 0.0% 25.49% 5 yrs, 0 mos Venture $0.00 $7,750.00 0.0% 17.99% 1 yrs, 9 mos Amazon $4,662.00 $8,000.00 58.3% 27.49% 2 yrs, 8 mos Amex $5,331.00 $8,500.00 62.7% 22.49% 3 yrs, 3 mos QuickSilver $0.00 $10,000.00 0.0% 22.99% 6 yrs, 4 mos CareCredit $0.00 $20,000.00 0.0% 21.49% 4 yrs, 9 mos Total $9,993.00 $59,200.00 16.9% 22.98%
I had hoped with this my Experian would have topped 760 and a second would be right there. but now its seems like Experian just wont move and it may end up my low score when its all said and done. Here is the rest of my report details:
Scorecard: Clean/Thick/Aged
Installments:
- Navient: $32,109 | Never late | 17 years, 8 months old
- Navient: $2,544 | Never late | 17 years, 2 months old
- CapOne Auto: $17,878 | Never Late | 1 year, 2 months old
Derrogatories: 0 collections, 0 lates, 0 charges off, 0 negative remarks
Hard Inqueries: 9 (2 older than 12 months)
Not sure what my best path to 760 middle score is. AZEO seems to be the common sense blind advice by experian gave me no boost with enormous movement on paying off revolvers with a balance or crossing thresholds and TU was a bit stingy too. I no longer have the cash reserves to throw big money at these. so its organic $800 a month payments (total) to go towards debt. that includes a minimum $295 to navient.
I could try and pay off the lower navient installment first. that would potentialy hurt my aging, as its 17 year accound. Or i could try and pay off the amazon. I could balance transfer $1500 of it to the amex and then work on the remaning $3000. that would put the amex at max util but get me at AZEO.
not sure if antyhing else could help, as a new line of credit would seem to piss off an underwriter.
For those who have crossed 760 recently, what did it and what help you see the biggest boosts, specifically on transunion?
IMHO there's nothing you can do in the near term to get your middle mortgage score up that high
The main thing now is aging.
You should definitely continue paying down Amex and Amazon cards. When they get each down to 28% or lower, and your aggregate revolving utilization is down to 6% or lower, then you will have accomplished almost all of what you can accomplish with revolving utilization.
If you can get your aggregate installment utilization down to 9% you might pick up a few points there too.
2 things i noticed on my Equifax thats different than the other 2:
- It is NOT reporting the smaller $2500 navient loan
- It IS reporting an older Honda loan showing it as $0 balance "pays account as agreed"
im assuming these 2 things help and are why my EQ is at 755.Is this an indicator that if i paid off the $2500 or so navient loan it would help my other 2 scores? It would almost certainly hurt my AAoA