Credit & Qualifying
How can I improve my credit before buying a home?
Updated Jul 1, 2026
The short answer
You can strengthen your credit before applying by checking your reports for errors and disputing them, paying bills on time, lowering credit-card balances relative to limits, and avoiding new debt or account closures right before a mortgage application. Because your score directly affects your rate, even modest improvements can lower your monthly payment and total interest.
Key points
- Check reports and dispute errors early.
- Pay on time and reduce card balances.
- Avoid new debt or closing accounts before applying.
- A higher score can mean a lower rate.
Start with your free reports
You are entitled to free credit reports, which let you catch and fix errors that may be dragging your score down. Correcting mistakes before you apply is one of the highest-leverage steps you can take.
Sources
Every claim above traces to a public government source.