[Becky]

From the mortgage loan officer perspective, I can say that for many borrowers, planning ahead is a key factor in getting the loan that you want at the best interest rates. Six months before you plan on a big investment--such as a home--I recommend pulling a copy of your credit report. That way if there are any mistakes that you need to clear up, or any small collections that can easily be paid, you can resolve the issue on your own and increase your chances of an easier loan approval.

I recommend www.MyFICO.com for a full copy of your credit report.

And http://money.howstuffworks.com/credit-score.htm is a great site for a quick lesson on what credit scores are and how they are calculated.