The 90-Day Checklist Before a Mortgage or Auto Loan

Before a major loan, the lender examines your credit report under a microscope. The good news: the final 90 days are a window where you can genuinely improve your position. Here's a month-by-month plan.

90 Days Out: Reconnaissance

• Pull your reports from all three bureaus and read them carefully
• List everything questionable: accounts that aren't yours, incorrect late payments, old debts
• Start disputing errors now — disputes take time, so begin early
• Calculate your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) — lenders look at this too

60 Days Out: Cleanup

• Lower your card utilization — aim for under 30%, ideally under 10%
• Don't close old cards — that shortens your credit history at the worst possible time
• Pay everything strictly on time; set up autopay
• Run a second round of disputes for anything that wasn't fixed the first time

30 Days Out: Radio Silence

• No new credit applications, period
• Keep card balances low right up until you apply
• Gather your documents: proof of income, statements, employment verification
• Avoid changing jobs right before applying, if you can help it

Why It's Worth the Effort

A difference of just 30-40 points in your score can bump you into a better rate tier. On a mortgage, that can mean tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Three months of discipline is one of the best-paying investments you can make.