Prepare Finances

Before you start shopping for your dream home, get in-touch with your financial health. Credit checks are readily available and factor heavily into your buying power. Once you have your credit report in-hand, correct any problems you might see, close any idle accounts and watch your credit rating improve.

Q: What is my credit rating? Your credit rating is based on a combined score generated from three credit bureaus who look at your credit history, amount of credit available, and recent inquiries to determine what’s called your FICO score.

Q: How do I check my credit rating? For a small fee, you can get your score and review your credit report by going online to www.myfico.com or contacting one of the following credit bureaus directly.

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion