[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.

[mcmama]

Thank you Becky, for these sites. They are a great resource. Everyone can now get one free credit report per year. The three credit reporting agencies have put together a site for you to do that, www.annualcreditreport.com. Everyone should check their credit once a year to see if there is anything that needs correction

[markbarnes19]

Another way to keep an eye on your credit score is choosing a credit card company that provides this information. Although it's not a complete credit report, it will give a score, which will then tell you if you have a problem. One company that does this is Providian. They update the score monthly, and it's completely free.

[master01]

3-in-One Reports
In my personal tests, the information pulled from each agency was the same as the data found on its Web site. But the credit scores generated for the "other" agencies--the agencies that did not actually sell the report--were not accurate. So I feel more comfortable ordering individual reports from each agency.

[mcmama]

Annualcreditreport.com is run by the three credit bureaus. Ordering individual reports from Equifax, Transunion, and Experian is likely the most accurate and detailed - which can be done through annualcreditreport.com since they are the sponsors of the site. The free reports do not give a score, but they do show credit activity. The purchased scores are direct from these agencies.

[fred333]

Thanks for the tips. I was looking for a place to get a report from.

[FRCreditRepair]

Hi, Those are good tips. I would like to add that if you find any negative inaccurate information on your credit reports and you want to have those removed. So you want to repair your credit, then read the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), that is always helpful. Good luck!