Janet had to increase her mid-FICO® score three points to qualify for a mortgage. Her Equifax FICO score was 646, her Experian FICO score was 637, and her TransUnion FICO score was 631. She opened a new account that lowered her TransUnion FICO Score to 627, while also raising her Experian FICO Score to 643. (Her Equifax FICO Score stayed unchanged), She now qualified for a mortgage with her 643 mid-FICO Score. Why are your 3 FICO Scores different? This is a very good question.

2020 has seen strong results for new clients of My Credit Plan (MCP). Average score improvement for those enrolled during the first quarter of 2020 (from January 1 to March 31) is 29 FICO® points higher. This continues to lead Experian’s Boost® (12 points average increase) and Creditxpert® (27 points point increase). 

Too many “uninformed” loan officers have told thousands of homeowners and media that skipping your mortgage payment (from the coronavirus) will not impact your credit. The only basis for this statement comes from a few politicians and some loan officers who have said that since lenders will not report 30-day or more late payments to the credit bureaus, skipping payments will not lower your scores. They have little understanding about FICO Scores and no authority to speak for lenders. In his report, KUTV’s Michael Locklear (CBS - Salt Lake City, Utah) identifies the potential dangers from skipping your mortgage payments.

Several car dealerships are offering deferred car payments for up to six months. Sounds like an opportunity for many to buy a new car or truck – right? Purchase a new car and no payments for six months. How can anything go wrong or put anyone in a bad financial situation? Let’s take a look behind the scenes.

The fallout for housing and for mortgage continues to change at a quick pace from the Coronavirus. Many are catching their breath from the rapid changes in last couple of weeks. The impact from these changes will be felt primarily for everyone, but especially for those with FICO® scores below 680. All prospective home buyers need to know this information.

Credit score requirements for mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and other loans are all going up. For those who have excellent FICO scores, there is not a lot to be concerned about. For those with less than excellent FICO scores, the financial impact is even more astonishing. What credit score improvement program gets superior results? Let’s go through them.

During the Financial Crisis of 2008 and beyond, many homeowners found themselves upside down in their primary residence: they owed more on their mortgage than the value of their home. Lenders came up with a possible solution to offer consumers a loan modification. How did a modification impact their FICO® scores and their finances? There is something critically important to know before anyone goes down this path of skipping mortgage payments.

There are times when information is disseminated which is just simply not true. CNBC’s Alexandria White’s writes that closing your oldest credit card will not have a substantive impact to your FICO Scores. Let's take a closer look at her analysis and how closing your oldest credit card can impact your FICO® scores.

(Updated March 20, 2020) With the economy teetering from to the coronavirus, many consumers face declining income from lost hours and even losing their jobs. Some inquire about the possibility of skipping loan payments on their homes or auto from the loss of income. Is this a possibility – and will it impact your credit report / FICO® scores? Let’s take a closer look.

Interest rates have dropped further over the last few weeks to all-time lows to the surprise of many. As a result, home purchasing power for many prospective home buyers has increased substantially since the beginning of 2020. This is one positive from the market chaos created from the coronavirus.