Today’s post comes from a lender that I have worked with personally and professionally for 25 years. If you want to purchase a home or if you would like to see if refinancing can better and shorten your current mortgage, give her a call or send her an email. For most people, a home is the biggest purchase you’ll ever make. When determining your credit worthiness, the lender will consider your financial history. To do that, they’ll be looking at your FICO score. Here’s what makes up your FICO score: 35% of your score is determined by your payment history . This includes everything from credit cards to retail accounts, as well as public records like bankruptcy. 30% of your score is determined by your amounts owed . This isn’t just how much you owe, but what types of accounts and what percentage of available credit you’re using. 15% of your score is determined by the length of your credit history : How long your accounts have been open, and what kind of activity they’ve