Tips for Rebuilding Your Credit After Foreclosure

Many people have weathered through some tough times over the past few years. But now, as things begin to look a little brighter, it's time to consider starting over the right way and with a plan.  Here are some great tips and information on taking the steps to get your credit back on track and once again qualify for a mortgage.

Pay your bills on time: The FICO score, the dominant credit score used by lenders, gives the greatest weight to payment history, so make sure you consistently pay your bills on time.
Review your credit report: You're entitled to a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three national credit bureaus -- Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. You should get a copy and check it for any inaccuracies. To get your free credit report, go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com/.
Check your mortgage: You want to be sure that you don't still owe anything on your old mortgage. Sometimes proceeds from a foreclosure sale aren't enough to cover what's owed on the mortgage, which would leave you owing the difference.
Apply for credit: In particular, apply for different varieties of credit. Credit-scoring models value having different types of credit, so apply for everything from a credit card to a car loan but don't apply for too much credit at one time. Too many inquiries on your credit report will look poor.
Don't fall prey: Watch out for credit repair companies that promise to clean up your credit report so you can get a car loan, a home mortgage, insurance, or even a job -- after paying a fee for the service. "The truth is, that no one can remove accurate, negative information from your credit report," according to the Federal Trade Commission. "It’s illegal." Only the passage of time can assure that negative, but accurate, information on your credit report will be removed.

Unfortunately, there are no quick credit fixes; however, with a little education and patience, you can begin to walk the road back to homeownership.