Formal Definition of FICO Scores

FICO Scores were basically formed and developed by The Fair Isaac Corporation as a means to rate a consumer’s credit worthiness and to help lenders in determining which potential clients are best qualified to receive loans.

What Makes FICO Scores Different?

The difference between FICO scores and other credit report type scores is that they are normally more widely accepted by home lenders. It was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that helped to push and expand the use of FICO scores several years ago and they have continued to be recognized as the industry leaders in terms of obtaining home loans.

What Is Actually In My FICO Score?

Your FICO score is based on 5 different pieces of information that is used in combination to form your overall score. The first two factors shown are responsible for more than half your score so they are considered to be a bit more important. FICO scores do not consider things like race, sex, marital status, or how much you earn on your job.

* Your Payment History (35%)

* Amounts Owed to Creditors (30%)

* Length of Current Credit History (15%)

* New Credit Obtained (10%)

* Types of Credit and Credit Cards Commonly Used (10%)

What Would Be a Good FICO Score?

The average FICO score ranges from 300 to 850 points. The higher your score, the better it is for you in terms of getting a loan. The current economy and other factors can influence what lenders consider to be good scores. However, at this point in time, scores around the 720 mark or higher would most often fall into the good category.

Is There a Way to Raise My FICO?

The biggest thing to consider when trying to raise your FICO score is that it will not happen overnight. Keeping that in mind, it is possible to raise your score with good decisions and better payment habits.

One good step is to build up a new credit history by making sure to make each of your payments timely. On time payments are crucial to your overall score so it’s critical that you pay attention to this portion of your finances. Also, you should work to keep your credit balances low as too much credit can also have a negative impact on your score. Most importantly, make it known to your creditors if you run into any payment problems and ask for help in lowering your payment or delaying it for a few weeks.

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