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For future homebuyers

Know where your credit stands before you start shopping.

Share a few details about your homebuying timeline, then use Cheryl Thomas's credit-readiness guide to prepare informed questions for your mortgage professional.

Your starting point

Preparation begins before preapproval.

Your credit score matters, but it is not the only information a mortgage lender may evaluate. Payment history, balances, utilization, recent activity, income, assets and the loan program can all affect the process.

Start with clarity.Complete this form before reviewing the checklist. Cheryl will receive your information directly and can follow up about the appropriate next step.

Prepared for homebuyers attending the September 24, 2026 Home Buyer Bootcamp and anyone planning a future purchase.

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Homebuyer readiness intake

Tell Cheryl where you are in the process.

Fields marked with an asterisk are required.

First name *

Last name *

Email address *

Phone number *

When are you hoping to buy? *

Have you spoken with a mortgage professional? *

Have you reviewed all three credit reports?

Preferred contact method

What would you like help understanding?

Do not submit Social Security numbers, credit-card numbers, bank information, account numbers or credit-report documents through this form.

CROA compliance notice: No specific result or timeline is guaranteed. Anchors Aweigh Credit Solutions does not promise deletions of accurate, current and verifiable information, score increases, financing approval, rates, terms or completion dates. Outcomes vary by credit profile, documentation and third-party responses.

Homebuyer credit readiness checklist

Complete these steps before the home search.

Review all three reports

Confirm names, addresses, accounts, balances, payment history and personal information across each bureau file.

Purchase Your Tri-Merge Credit Report

Identify genuine reporting concerns

Look for information that may be inaccurate, incomplete, duplicated or unverifiable and gather supporting documentation.

Protect payment history

Pay every obligation on time and confirm automatic payments processed successfully.

Understand utilization

Compare revolving balances with credit limits and learn which balances may report on statement closing dates.

Pause major credit changes

Do not open, close or co-sign for accounts without discussing the possible impact with the mortgage professional.

Keep a paper trail

Save documentation for large deposits, transfers, balance changes and corrected reporting.

Know your comfortable budget

The maximum approval amount is not automatically the monthly payment that fits your life.

Build the right team

Coordinate credit questions, lending decisions and real estate strategy with the appropriate professionals.

This checklist is educational and is not legal, tax, lending or financial advice. Anchors Aweigh Credit Solutions is not a mortgage lender and does not guarantee score increases, deletions, rates, terms or loan approval.

Know what influences the score

Classic FICO score factors

These percentages describe general scoring factors for the overall population. Their importance can vary by consumer, bureau file and score model.

35%Payment history

30%Amounts owed

15%Credit history length

10%New credit

10%Credit mix

Credit-card timing

Due date and statement date do different jobs.

Due date

Pay at least the required amount by the due date to protect payment history and avoid being reported late. Confirm that automatic payments processed.

Statement closing date

Many issuers report the statement balance around this date. A lower reported balance may reduce utilization, but issuer practices and score impact vary.

Do not pay off or close an account solely to influence a mortgage score without instructions from the mortgage professional managing the loan. The wrong action can affect cash to close, reserves, score or eligibility.

Your next move starts with clarity

Ready for a complete credit analysis?

Review the full credit picture, understand potential reporting concerns and receive an organized roadmap built around your goals.

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