The levers that move fast
Credit utilization is the fastest lever. Getting revolving balances below 30% of each card's limit — and ideally below 10% — can move a score meaningfully within one or two reporting cycles. Pay down the cards closest to their limits first, not the ones with the biggest balances.
Disputing and correcting genuine reporting errors is the second fastest. Collections that were paid but still show a balance, accounts that are not yours, or duplicate entries all drag a score down and can often be corrected.
The things that quietly hurt
Closing an old credit card shortens your average account age and reduces your total available credit. Both work against you. Leave old accounts open, even unused ones.
Opening new credit while you are shopping for a mortgage adds an inquiry and a new account with no history. That includes store cards, auto loans, and buy-now-pay-later plans. Wait until after closing.
Large unexplained deposits are not a credit issue, but they are an underwriting issue. Keep your accounts boring for 60 days before and during the process.
Why the tier matters more than the number
Mortgage pricing moves in tiers, typically in 20-point bands. A score of 719 and a score of 700 often price the same, while 719 and 720 do not. That is why a targeted 10-point improvement can be worth real money, and why it is worth pulling your credit early enough to do something about it.
Questions people ask
Will having my credit pulled hurt my score?+
A mortgage inquiry has a small, temporary effect, and multiple mortgage inquiries within a shopping window are treated as one. It is not a reason to avoid getting pre-approved.
What credit score do I need to buy a home?+
FHA can work in the 580s and sometimes lower with compensating factors. Conventional generally starts at 620. Better scores get better pricing, but there is a loan for most credit profiles.