What You'll Learn

This comprehensive 90-day plan gives you everything you need to improve your credit score before applying for a mortgage.

Week-by-week actions to improve your credit score by 50-100 points
How to dispute errors and negotiate with creditors effectively
Strategies that show results within 30 days (like utilization)
Real case studies from DFW homebuyers who followed this plan

Where You Are in the Journey

Phase 2: Foundation Building - You've committed to buying a home. Now you're actively working on your finances: saving for down payment, building credit, paying down debt, and learning about mortgages.

This 90-day credit boost plan is designed specifically for this stage-when you're 3-9 months away from pre-approval and want to maximize your credit score to qualify for the best possible mortgage terms.

Stage 2.1: Financial Foundation (Months 1-3)

The Reality About Credit Improvement

  • 90 days CAN make a massive difference - People routinely improve 50-100 points in this timeframe with focused effort
  • Every 20-point increase matters - Better credit = lower interest rates = thousands saved over 30 years
  • This requires actual work - Not magic, not tricks, but specific actions taken consistently
  • You'll see progress quickly - Some improvements (like utilization) show up within 30 days
  • You're not too late - Whether you're at 580 or 680, there's room to improve right now

Calculate Your Potential Impact

See how credit score improvements translate to real savings on a $300,000 home

Your Potential Savings

$0

saved per month = $0 over 30 years

By improving your credit score from 0 to 0 , you could qualify for a 0 % lower interest rate.

Your 90-Day Action Plan

Choose your month to see day-by-day actions, time commitments, and expected score impacts

Month 1: Foundation (Days 1-30)

Focus: Audit current situation, fix errors, establish baseline improvements

Expected Impact: 20-40 point increase

Week 1: Credit Report Deep Dive

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Day 1: Get Your Free Credit Reports
  • Visit AnnualCreditReport.com (only official free source)
  • Download reports from all 3 bureaus: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion
  • Save PDFs with today's date in filename
  • Sign up for free monitoring (Credit Karma, Experian app)
Impact: Baseline established Time: 30 minutes
Day 2-3: Review Every Line of Your Reports
  • Check personal information (name, address, SSN) for errors
  • Verify every account listed actually belongs to you
  • Look for incorrect balances, wrong payment history, duplicate accounts
  • Highlight anything that looks wrong or unfamiliar
  • Create a spreadsheet to track all issues found
Impact: Identify fixable issues Time: 2 hours
Day 4-5: Dispute Errors Immediately
  • File disputes online with each bureau (fastest method)
  • Provide clear explanation and any supporting documents
  • Keep confirmation numbers and copies of disputes
  • Set calendar reminder for 30-day follow-up
Impact: 10-50+ points if errors found Time: 1-2 hours
Day 6-7: Calculate Your Current Utilization
  • List every credit card: current balance / credit limit = utilization %
  • Calculate overall utilization: total balances / total limits
  • Identify which cards are over 30% (these hurt most)
  • Create paydown strategy targeting highest-utilization cards first
Impact: Strategy created Time: 1 hour

Week 2: Rapid Utilization Improvements

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Day 8-10: Strategic Balance Paydowns
  • Pay down highest-utilization cards FIRST (biggest score impact)
  • Get all cards below 30% utilization as priority #1
  • If possible, get below 10% (ideal range)
  • Make payments before statement closing date for fastest impact
  • Use debt avalanche method: highest utilization %, not highest balance
Impact: 15-50 points within 30 days Time: Varies based on available funds
Day 11-12: Request Credit Limit Increases
  • Call or apply online with ALL credit card issuers
  • Ask: "Can you increase my limit without a hard credit pull?"
  • If yes, request 2-3x your current limit (they'll counter-offer)
  • Explain: stable income, good payment history, planning major purchase
  • Track which cards approved, how much, when effective
Impact: Lowers utilization instantly Time: 1-2 hours
Day 13-14: Set Up Autopay on EVERYTHING
  • Enable autopay for minimum payment on all credit cards
  • Set up autopay for all loans, utilities, subscriptions
  • Choose payment date after your payday
  • Set calendar reminders 3 days before each autopay
  • Never miss a payment again (35% of your score!)
Impact: Prevents future score drops Time: 1 hour

Week 3: Leverage & Strategy

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Day 15-17: Become an Authorized User
  • Identify family members with excellent credit (740+)
  • Ask to be added as authorized user on their OLDEST card
  • Confirm they have perfect payment history and low utilization
  • You don't need physical card-just need to be on account
  • Typically appears on your report within 30-60 days
Impact: 20-50 points after reporting Time: Conversations with family
Day 18-20: Address Collections & Charge-Offs
  • List all collections/charge-offs with original creditor, collection agency, amount
  • Send "debt validation letter" to each collector (template in toolkit)
  • If they can't validate (30 days), dispute with credit bureaus
  • If valid, negotiate "pay for delete" agreement in writing
  • Never admit debt or make payment before negotiation complete
Impact: 30-100 points if removed Time: 2-3 hours + negotiation
Day 21: Open Secured Card (If Needed)
  • If you have limited credit history (thin file), open secured card
  • Best options: Discover It Secured, Capital One Secured
  • Deposit $200-500 (becomes your credit limit)
  • Use for small purchases, pay in full monthly
  • Establishes positive payment history fast
Impact: Builds credit history Time: 30 minutes

Week 4: Optimization & Monitoring

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Day 22-24: Use Experian Boost
  • Sign up at ExperianBoost.com (free service)
  • Connect bank account to verify utility and phone bill payments
  • System adds up to 2 years of payment history to Experian report
  • Works best if you have bills with perfect payment history
  • Average boost: 13 points, some see 20-30 points instantly
Impact: 10-30 points instantly Time: 20 minutes
Day 25-27: Review & Adjust Strategy
  • Check updated credit scores (most update monthly)
  • Review which actions have posted to your reports
  • Calculate current utilization vs. Day 1
  • Identify what's working best for you
  • Adjust Month 2 strategy based on progress
Impact: Strategic optimization Time: 1 hour
Day 28-30: Document Everything
  • Take screenshots of all credit scores from Day 1 vs. Day 30
  • Document balances, utilization, new accounts
  • Note any disputes resolved or pending
  • Celebrate wins! (Even 10-point increase is progress)
  • Prepare mental game for Month 2 acceleration
Impact: Motivation & tracking Time: 30 minutes

Month 2: Acceleration (Days 31-60)

Focus: Aggressive debt paydown, perfect payment record, maximizing quick wins

Expected Impact: Additional 20-40 points (40-80 total)

Week 5: Aggressive Paydown Phase

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Day 31-35: Target 50% Balance Reduction
  • Review all credit card balances from Month 1
  • Set goal: reduce total credit card debt by 50%
  • Use any available cash: savings, side hustle income, bonuses
  • Prioritize cards with highest utilization first
  • Make payments before statement dates to see immediate impact
Impact: 20-40 points from utilization alone Time: Ongoing commitment
Day 36-37: Negotiate with All Creditors
  • Call every creditor with balance or collection
  • Script: "I'm preparing to buy a home. Can you help me optimize my account?"
  • Ask for: lower interest rate, fee waivers, payment plan, settlement
  • If first rep says no, politely ask for supervisor
  • Document every conversation: date, name, outcome
Impact: Lower payments = faster payoff Time: 2-3 hours
Day 38-42: Perfect Payment Streak
  • Make at LEAST minimum payment on EVERY account
  • Verify autopay executed successfully
  • Pay early if statement date is approaching
  • Set up balance alerts to avoid over-limit fees
  • 60 days of perfect payments = establishing positive trend
Impact: Prevents score drops, builds history Time: Ongoing monitoring

Week 6: Collections Resolution

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Day 43-47: Settle Collections with "Pay for Delete"
  • For each validated collection, offer 40-60% settlement
  • Require written "pay for delete" agreement BEFORE paying
  • Never give bank account access-use credit card or money order
  • Get confirmation of deletion within 30 days in writing
  • Follow up with credit bureaus if not deleted as promised
Impact: 30-50 points per collection removed Time: 2-4 hours negotiation
Day 48-50: Goodwill Letters for Late Payments
  • If you have 1-2 late payments with good payment history otherwise, write goodwill letter
  • Explain situation, emphasize years of on-time payments, request removal as courtesy
  • Send to creditor (not credit bureau)
  • Follow up after 2 weeks if no response
  • Success rate: ~30%, but worth trying
Impact: 10-30 points if successful Time: 1-2 hours

Week 7-8: Fine-Tuning & Monitoring

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Day 51-55: Request Second Round of Limit Increases
  • 60 days after first requests, ask again for credit limit increases
  • Emphasize: "I requested increase 60 days ago, I've maintained perfect payments since"
  • More likely to approve after seeing 2 months of good behavior
  • Even small increases help utilization percentage
Impact: Further utilization reduction Time: 1 hour
Day 56-58: Weekly Score Monitoring
  • Check Credit Karma, Experian, bank apps weekly now
  • Look for newly reported positive accounts (authorized user)
  • Verify dispute resolutions have posted
  • Calculate utilization across all cards
  • Track momentum: most see 40-80 point increase by Day 60
Impact: Stay informed, stay motivated Time: 15 minutes weekly
Day 59-60: Month 2 Assessment
  • Compare Day 60 scores to Day 1 and Day 30
  • Calculate total improvement so far
  • Identify remaining opportunities for Month 3
  • Celebrate progress! (You're 2/3 done)
  • Adjust Month 3 strategy based on current position
Impact: Strategic planning Time: 1 hour

Month 3: Optimization (Days 61-90)

Focus: Perfect execution, let improvements mature, prepare for mortgage application

Expected Impact: Additional 10-20 points (50-100 total)

Week 9-10: Final Push to Under 10% Utilization

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Day 61-70: Get Every Card Below 10%
  • The holy grail: all cards under 10% utilization
  • Even if you can't pay to zero, get below 10%
  • This is when you see the biggest score jumps
  • Pay balances strategically before statement dates
  • Some people even pay multiple times per month to keep utilization low
Impact: 10-30 additional points Time: Ongoing commitment
Day 71-75: Perfect Payment Month #3
  • 90 days of perfect payments = strong positive trend
  • No late payments, no missed payments, no exceptions
  • This is what lenders want to see
  • Triple-check autopay settings
  • Review account activity weekly for any issues
Impact: Establishes reliability Time: Vigilant monitoring

Week 11: No New Credit Applications

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Day 76-82: Hard Inquiry Freeze
  • NO new credit applications from now until after mortgage closes
  • No new credit cards, car loans, personal loans, nothing
  • Don't even apply for store cards (yes, that counts!)
  • Each hard inquiry can drop score 5-10 points
  • Lenders will re-pull credit before closing-don't mess this up
Impact: Prevents score drops Time: Discipline required
Day 83-84: Authorized User Accounts Check
  • Verify authorized user accounts have reported to your credit
  • Should appear 60-90 days after being added
  • If not showing, contact card issuer to confirm reporting
  • This is often the biggest single-action boost people see
Impact: 20-50 points when reports Time: 30 minutes

Week 12-13: Letting It Mature

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Day 85-90: Maintenance Mode
  • All the heavy lifting is done-now let time work for you
  • Maintain perfect payment record (forever!)
  • Keep utilization below 10% on all cards
  • Don't touch your credit-let everything mature
  • Give it 30 more days for final score to settle
Impact: Final optimization Time: Ongoing habits
Day 90: Final Assessment & Next Steps
  • Pull final credit reports and scores
  • Compare Day 90 to Day 1 (document everything!)
  • Calculate total point improvement
  • Ready for pre-approval? Contact verified lenders
  • Not quite there? Continue these habits for 30-60 more days
Impact: Mission accomplished! Time: 1 hour review

Track Your Progress

Use this interactive tracker to monitor your improvements weekly

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Current Score
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Target Score
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Total Improvement
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Days Completed
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Real Results from Real People

These aren't hypotheticals-these are actual Just Home Leads community members who followed this plan

Marcus, 28 - Dallas

Restaurant manager, single, renting in Uptown

612 → 687

Starting Situation:

"I had $8,000 in credit card debt across 3 cards, all maxed out. Two late payments from 18 months ago. One collection for $450 from old gym membership. My utilization was 95%. I thought I'd never qualify for a mortgage."

What He Did:

  • Week 1: Disputed gym collection (couldn't validate, removed!)
  • Week 2: Paid down $4,000 using tax refund, got below 50% utilization
  • Week 3: Became authorized user on mom's 15-year-old card with $25K limit
  • Week 4-8: Paid down another $2,500, got below 25% utilization
  • Week 8-12: Perfect payment record, used Experian Boost (+18 points)
Result: 75-point increase in 84 days. Pre-approved for FHA at 3.5% down. Closed on $285K home in Arlington. Monthly payment $300 less than expected because of improved rate. That's $108,000 saved over 30 years.
Sofia & Carlos, 32 & 34 - Fort Worth

Teacher & electrician, married with 1 kid, renting in Haltom City

658 → 728

Starting Situation:

"We had okay credit but not great. $12,000 in credit card debt, student loans, car payments. Utilization was around 60%. No major issues, just not optimized. We were at the FHA/Conventional borderline and wanted to qualify for Conventional for better rates."

What They Did:

  • Month 1: Combined efforts-paid down $6,000 in credit card debt, requested limit increases on all cards (approved for $8,000 more total limit)
  • Month 1-2: Sofia became authorized user on her aunt's card, Carlos became authorized user on his dad's card
  • Month 2: Both used Experian Boost, added utility and phone bills
  • Month 2-3: Paid down remaining $4,000, got utilization below 10% total
  • Throughout: Perfect payment record on everything, no new credit applications
Result: 70-point average increase (Sofia: 62, Carlos: 78). Qualified for Conventional loan at 5% down instead of FHA. Saved $145/month on PMI compared to FHA. That's $52,200 saved over 30 years. Closed on $340K home in Burleson.
Jasmine, 25 - Plano

Marketing specialist, single, living with parents temporarily

582 → 672

Starting Situation:

"My credit was wrecked from college. Three late payments, two collections ($220 and $890), thin credit file (only 2 years history). I didn't think I could buy for years. Below FHA minimum. Felt hopeless."

What She Did:

  • Week 1-2: Disputed both collections (one was identity theft!, removed immediately)
  • Week 3: Negotiated pay-for-delete on second collection, settled for $400, removed within 30 days
  • Week 2: Opened secured credit card with $300 deposit, used for gas only, paid in full monthly
  • Week 3: Became authorized user on both parents' oldest cards
  • Month 2-3: Paid off remaining $1,800 credit card balance, perfect payment record
  • Month 3: Used Experian Boost, added 2 years of phone bill history
Result: 90-point increase in 86 days. Crossed FHA threshold, pre-approved for 3.5% down FHA loan. Closed on $265K townhome in Frisco. "I literally cried at closing. 90 days ago I thought this was impossible."

The 6 Strategies That Matter Most

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Credit Utilization

Get below 30%, then below 10%. This is 30% of your score and shows results within 30 days. Pay before statement date for fastest impact.

Impact: 15-50 points in 30 days
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Perfect Payments

Set up autopay on EVERYTHING. Payment history is 35% of your score. One missed payment can drop your score 50-100 points instantly.

Prevents: 50-100 point drops
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Authorized User

Get added to someone's old card with perfect history. Their age and payment record become yours instantly. Best single-action boost available.

Impact: 20-50 points in 60 days
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Dispute Errors

30% of credit reports have errors. Unknown accounts, wrong balances, incorrect late payments-all fixable. Dispute immediately, follow up relentlessly.

Impact: 10-100+ points if errors found
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Pay for Delete

Negotiate collections removal in exchange for payment. Never pay without written agreement. Settlements are better than nothing, deletion is better than settlement.

Impact: 30-50 points per collection
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Credit Limit Increases

Request increases every 60 days. Lowers utilization without paying debt. Ask for "soft pull" increases only. Emphasize stable income and good payment history.

Impact: Instant utilization reduction

Downloadable Tools & Templates

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Credit Tracking Spreadsheet

Track all accounts, balances, utilization, and progress weekly

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Dispute Letter Templates

Pre-written letters for errors, collections, and goodwill requests

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Debt Payoff Calculator

Optimize which balances to pay first for maximum score impact

Open Calculator
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Daily Checklist App

Mobile-friendly daily actions with reminders and progress tracking

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Negotiation Scripts

Exact words to use when calling creditors and collections agencies

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Progress Dashboard

Visual dashboard to track score improvements and completed actions

Open Dashboard

Pro Tips from Mortgage Lenders

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Pay Before Statement Date

Your credit card balance reports on your statement date, not your due date. If you pay down balances BEFORE the statement generates, that lower balance (and lower utilization) is what reports to credit bureaus. This is how people show 0% utilization while still using their cards.

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Don't Close Old Cards

Length of credit history is 15% of your score. When you close your oldest card, you lose that history. Even if you never use a card, keep it open. Put a small recurring charge on it (like Spotify) and set it to autopay so it stays active.

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Mortgage Shopping Window

When you're ready to shop lenders, do it within 14-45 days (depends on scoring model). Multiple mortgage inquiries in that window count as just ONE inquiry. But outside that window, each counts separately. Batch your lender shopping!

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Utilization Kills Scores Fast

Going from 10% to 90% utilization can drop your score 50-100 points in 30 days. But the reverse is also true-it can bounce back just as fast when you pay down. Utilization has no memory, so improvements show immediately.

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Freeze After Applying for Mortgage

After your mortgage application, freeze your credit with all 3 bureaus. Lenders will re-pull before closing. If new debt appears (identity theft or mistake), your loan could be denied at closing. Freezing prevents this nightmare scenario.

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Lenders Use Middle Score

You have 3 scores (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Lenders use your MIDDLE score, not average or highest. If you're at 650, 680, 700-they use 680. Focus on bringing up your lowest score for maximum benefit.

Key Takeaways

Ready to Get Pre-Approved?

You've done the work. Your credit is improving. Now let's connect you with verified lenders who specialize in first-time buyers.

Credit Score Essentials Am I Ready to Buy? Financial Toolkit
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Questions about your specific situation? View our FAQs with our homebuyer educators.