Credit Score
Understanding Your Credit Score
Your credit score is a number that represents your creditworthiness — basically, how likely you are to repay borrowed money. Lenders use this score to determine your eligibility for loans, interest rates, and terms.
How Lenders Pull Credit vs. What You See
You might check your credit score through your bank or credit card company, but lenders use a slightly different process:
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Consumer credit scores: The score you see on apps or websites is often an estimate (like FICO® or VantageScore®). It gives you a general idea of your credit health.
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Lender credit pulls: When you apply for a mortgage, lenders request an official credit report from the credit bureaus. This is called a “hard inquiry,” and it’s slightly different from the score you see online.
Tip: Checking your own score through apps or websites is a soft inquiry — it doesn’t affect your credit.
Ways to Improve Your Credit
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Here are some practical steps to boost your credit before applying for a loan:
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Pay bills on time, every time.
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Reduce credit card balances and keep utilization low (ideally under 30%).
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Avoid opening too many new accounts at once.
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Keep older accounts open to build a longer credit history.
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Review your credit report for errors and dispute them promptly.
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Consult with a Mortgage Specialist
How to Avoid Trigger Lead Marketing Calls
After a credit pull for a mortgage or other loan, your information may be added to lists called “trigger leads.” These lists are sold by the credit bureaus (like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) to lenders, credit card companies, and other financial marketers, who may then call or mail you with unsolicited offers. Trigger lead calls can be annoying and overwhelming, but there are ways to protect yourself.
Opt-out of prescreen offers
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Visit optoutprescreen.com to opt out of credit offer lists.
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You can choose a 5-year temporary opt-out or a permanent opt-out.
Register in advance
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Go to donotcall.gov to add your phone number to the national list.
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This blocks most telemarketing calls from legitimate companies.
KKSU Mortgage Team Tip:
ou have the right to privacy. By registering on these sites and working with trusted lenders, you can reduce unwanted calls and protect your personal information.
Limit Unnecessary Credit Pulls
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Only authorize lenders you’re actively working with.
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Discuss with your mortgage specialist which credit pulls are needed for pre-approval or rate shopping