Basic of FICO Scoring

FICO scoring is used by lenders to figure out what your interest rate will be on loans you apply for. If you’re buying a house the types of mortgages available to you are based on your personal credit score.

That score is based on the FICO model and the interest you pay, as well as your monthly payment, is based on what your personal credit score number is.

The same is true when you get a car loan, as well as the premium on your car insurance or homeowners insurance. Your personal credit score can even affect your chances of getting new employment.

There are a lot of things that go into FICO scoring and we will group that into about five categories.

In each category, we will include a percentage that reflects the importance of each when determining personal credit and calculating a score.

History (35%)

Your payment history is the largest factor in determining FICO scoring. This includes the number of unpaid bills you have, any bills sent to collection, bankruptcies etc. The more recent the problem, the lower your score.

Outstanding Debts (30%)

This is determined by the amount of credit that is being used on a revolving credit line like a credit card, determining your credit to debt ratio. Ideal is about 40/60. This means if you have credit card with a $10,000 limit, you have an outstanding balance of 4,000.

Length of your credit history (15%)

How long have your accounts been open? High loan amounts that you have paid as agreed and have had open a long time work best. Closing old accounts can have a negative affect because it makes your credit history appear shorter.

Recent inquiries (10%)

Every time you apply for any kind of credit you create an inquiry on your credit report. A lot of inquiries negatively affect your credit score. However, ordering a copy and checking your own credit report or personal credit score counts as a soft inquiry and does not go against your score.

Type of Credit (10%)

Is your credit from a car loan or a mortgage? If it is a mortgage, how much do you currently owe compared to the original amount loaned. How many accounts are open. It is not always beneficial to open a new account to receive more available cred