Credit building

Finder’s analysis and forecast of the nation’s average credit score based on VantageScore’s Credit Gauge data.

Drops in credit score could mean high balances, closed accounts, late payments and more. See what you can do to fix them in this guide.

A credit utilization ratio measures your credit balance owed to your credit limit. Learn why keeping a ratio under 30% can improve your credit score.

The credit score you will need to buy a house depends on the loan type, but other factors play a role, too.

While your score may dip temporarily after consolidating debt, debt consolidation can improve your creditworthiness over time.

See how to get your credit score, read your credit report and understand what they both mean.

Practice these 5 simple credit habits to keep your credit score soaring.

It is possible to remove account collections from your credit report, but building your credit back up could take some time.

Learn why your debt-to-income ratio matters and how to calculate it. Find out what’s considered a good DTI and read our tips for keeping it low. Use our calculator to determine your DTI and see how that affects your borrowing power.

Experian, Equifax and TransUnion are the three major credit bureaus, or credit reporting agencies. See how they work in this guide.