Before applying for a home loan, it’s crucial to understand your mortgage credit score—the number lenders use to assess your risk and set your interest rate. At North Star Mortgage Network, we guide homebuyers through the process of checking their credit and improving their eligibility.

What Is a Mortgage Credit Score?

A mortgage credit score is typically a FICO® score, the standard used by most lenders. You have three scores, one from each of the major bureaus: TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. These scores are calculated based on your credit history and payment patterns.

Even small changes in your score can mean significant differences in what you’ll pay over the life of your loan. A borrower with a 760 score will often qualify for better terms than someone with a 620 score.

How to Get Your Mortgage Credit Score

You can start by requesting your free credit reports through the only official government-authorized site:

www.annualcreditreport.com

Steps to Access Your Credit Reports:

Step 1: Complete the Online Request Form
Select which reports you want—Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion—and provide your personal information securely.

Step 2: Choose Your Reports
You can request any or all three. Since each bureau may report slightly different data, reviewing all three is the best approach.

Step 3: Verify Your Identity
You’ll be asked detailed questions about your financial history. This is a security step to protect your information.

Once verified, you’ll be able to view, download, or print your credit reports. Note: while credit reports are free, FICO® scores may not always be included—but these reports contain the data used to calculate those scores.

What Else Should I Know About Credit Scores?

A credit score is a computer-generated summary created at the time of your request. It’s based on the information a consumer reporting agency or lender has on file about you. These scores change over time, depending on your behavior, payment history, and changes in scoring models.

Because your credit history influences your mortgage eligibility and interest rate, it’s essential to review the data regularly for accuracy. If you find errors, they should be corrected before applying for a loan.

Bureau Contact Information

If you need help understanding or disputing credit data, you can reach out to the bureaus directly:

How to Request Your Report by Phone or Mail

Phone: Call toll-free at 1-877-322-8228
Mail: Send your completed form to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Form available here:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/include/requestformfinal.pdf

Why Your Mortgage Credit Score Matters

Your credit score plays a major role in what interest rate you’re offered. Higher scores mean lower costs and more loan options. Scores as low as 580 may still qualify for an FHA loan, but better scores open the door to conventional loans with stronger terms.

Final Thoughts

Knowing your mortgage credit score is one of the most important steps in preparing to buy a home. At North Star Mortgage Network, we’re committed to helping you understand and improve your credit so you can qualify for the best mortgage possible.

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