Your credit resources
Everything here doesn’t cost you a thing. Pull your own data, understand what’s on your report, and protect your score on the way to a mortgage.
1. Get your credit data — free
You never have to pay for a credit report. Start with your full reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, then grab a free score to track progress. Since 2026, VantageScore 4.0 is an approved mortgage model — so a free score is closer to what a lender sees than it used to be.
Full credit reports (the data, not a score)
The official free source — now free every week. This is the raw report data our tools work from. Start here.
Score + report
Easy free scores to track your progress. This is the report format our importer reads best.
Score + report
Score (no Discover card needed)
Score
Free FICO score
Most major cards (Amex, Bank of America, Citi, Wells Fargo, and others) show a free FICO score in your online account.
Your actual mortgage FICO (models 2/4/5)
The only consumer source of the exact scores older mortgage pulls use. Optional — your loan officer can pull the real tri-merge when you're close.
2. How long negatives stay on your report
Most negative marks fall off after 7 years on their own. Important: how long something stays on your report is not the same as how long until you can get a mortgage — an FHA loan is often reachable years before a bankruptcy even falls off.
| Item | Stays on report | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Late payment | 7 years | the date of the late payment |
| Collection | 7 years | the original delinquency date (DOFD) |
| Charge-off | 7 years | the original delinquency date (DOFD) |
| Chapter 7 bankruptcy | 10 years | the filing date |
| Chapter 13 bankruptcy | 7 years | the filing date |
| Foreclosure | 7 years | the first missed payment |
| Hard inquiry | 2 years | the inquiry date |
| Paid medical collection | Should not report | Should no longer appear — the bureaus removed paid medical collections at any balance. If it's showing, dispute it as non-reportable. |
| Unpaid medical collection under $500 | Should not report | Should no longer appear — the bureaus removed unpaid medical collections under $500. If it's showing, dispute it. |
| Unpaid medical collection $500+ | 7 years | the original delinquency date (DOFD) |
| Civil judgment | Should not report | Civil judgments generally no longer appear on credit reports (removed 2017). |
Medical rules reflect the current bureau policies (paid medical and unpaid medical under $500 no longer report). Tax liens and most civil judgments no longer appear on credit reports at all.
3. Protect your score to the closing table
Raising your score is only half the job. One wrong move here can undo months of progress — or sink an approval that’s already in motion. Lenders can re-pull your credit right before funding.
Don't open new credit within ~12 months of applying
No new cards, car loans, or financing — even a 0% furniture offer. Each new account adds a hard inquiry, lowers your average age, and can spook an underwriter mid-approval. (Building new tradelines is smart earlier than that — your plan will say so when the timing is right.)
Don't close old cards
Closing a card erases its available credit and can spike your utilization overnight. Keep old cards open, even ones you rarely use.
Don't pay off and close collections without a plan
Paying a collection can re-date it and, in some cases, briefly hurt your score. Get any pay-for-delete in writing first, and coordinate timing with your advisor.
Keep utilization low — through closing
Keep card balances under 30% (ideally under 10%) the entire way to the closing table. Lenders can re-pull your credit right before funding.
Don't make large, unexplained deposits
Big cash deposits that can't be sourced create underwriting headaches. Keep your bank statements clean and documented for the months before you apply.
Never be late on rent
Lenders verify your last 12 months of housing payments, and a single rent late can outweigh months of credit-card progress. If money gets tight one month, rent comes first.
Don't co-sign or become an authorized user on a risky account
Someone else's late payment or high balance can land on your report. Only piggyback on accounts with a long, spotless, low-balance history.
Want a personalized plan built from your report?
It’s free, and it never impacts your credit score.
Request accessEducational information only, not financial or legal advice, and not a credit decision or mortgage pre-approval. Credit-reporting rules and lender guidelines change and vary by situation.