Credit improvement education
This page is for general education only. It is not legal advice, tax advice, or the work of a “credit repair” company. Credit decisions are made by lenders and credit bureaus using their own models and rules.
Big picture ideas
- Pay all accounts on time as consistently as possible.
- Keep credit card balances as low as you reasonably can compared to their limits.
- Avoid rapid “maxing out” and opening many new accounts at once.
- Review your reports for accuracy, and follow official dispute procedures for any clear errors.
Talking through your own report
If you choose to obtain a copy of your credit report from an authorized source (such as AnnualCreditReport) and share parts of it with us, we can talk through general patterns in plain language – for example:
- Which debts are adding the most pressure to your monthly budget.
- How lowering balances could affect your debt-to-income ratio.
- Timing or strategies that may help you move toward being “mortgage ready.”
We focus on education and planning. Any decisions about disputes, legal steps or specialized credit services are yours to make, and you may wish to speak with an attorney or other qualified professional where appropriate.
Next steps if you want help
A simple way to begin is:
- Use the DTI checker to see your current debt-to-income ratio.
- List your active credit cards, auto loans, personal loans and student loans in one place.
- Note which accounts you could realistically pay down first over the next 6–12 months.
- Share your information through Get Your Plan and mention that you’d like to review your credit picture.