HELP improving my fico score; my score is between 659-687?

my fico score includes a bankrupcy that was discharged two years ago, a judgement for an apartment complex but paid off with a settlement, a car loan never late, one visa account with no fees never late just paid off, mastercard account with an annual 29 fee never late just paid off, target card 40 balance, rooms to go 2400 balance no interest/no payment until 2009 and i intend to pay 1000 in feb, student loans balance 6500 never late and my fico score dropped 40 points i guess from recent inquiries because all except the car were openened in the last two years and i felt i should open new account s to rebuild my credit since the bankrupcy. i want to buy a home next year or so and im still considered high risk in creditors eyes and i just ordered a fico score kit to monitor my report and scores what else can i do all answers welcome but would love to hear from people in the credit industry and very serious answers please my dream is to purchase a home with low interest rates......

Public Comments

1. try getting some books that will tell you ways to repair your credit, those are inexpensive and worth the time, a book from someone like suze orman would be great she knows her stuff. also try opening a savings account or a money market and having some investments, maybe an ira with your job, or just some mutual funds
2. Two years out of a BK with a judgment and your FICO score is in the 659-687 range? This isn't bad....you should be pleased with these scores.
3. Yes...I agree with the above poster. For all you've been through, your score is pretty great. It will only go up, too if you keep on the right track. Good luck!
4. To raise credit score 1. Always pay on time or ahead of time. 2. maintain low balances on credit cards 3.To boost your score: Don't charge anything for at least 60 days before applying for a loan 4. keep your total potential debt to earnings load low - If you have a card with a $15000 credit line, you may ask them to reduce it to something more realistic, like $5000. 5. You should have a recent history of both installment or term (Car or house loans) and revolving credit. 6.To boost your score: Don't close unused accounts when you transfer debt. 7.To boost your score: Consider opening another credit-card account or two, or taking out a car loan or small bank loan. ------------------------------ http://www.bestcreditrates.net
5. It's really easy. Check out the three articles below. The first article tells you how to raise your score in 30 days by doing a simple TRW clean up. Totally legal...you don't need to pay anyone...and it's easy to do. The second article tells you the Credit Urban Legends and how to strengthen your score quickly with simple tricks you can do this month. Again...very easy to do and doesn't cost you anything. The third articles tells you how to deal with collection agencies and what your rights are as a Credit Consumer. Most agencies don't want you to know what your rights are because then they can't badger you into paying. You have more freedom then you realize, and if you decide to settle anything, you can do it for way less then what you really owe. Hope this helps.
6. You could have a couple more paid negatives and possibly the bankruptcy deleted to push your score higher. You could use a credit repair service to remove inquiries and other negatives. Check out the free evaluation form at www.totaldebtsolutionsllc.com --They partner with a true non profit that provides a high quality service for just $125. My mom used them and her score jumped 60 points. Good luck.
7. It doesn't sound to me that you have a problem if you plan to purchase a home a year from now. I have sold many homes as a real estate agent, and when my clients had a fico score of 700 or better where able to get very reasonable rates on thier mortgage. Just keep paying your bills on time and your income to debt ratio will keep improving and you should be over 700 in a mater of a few months. Don't allow company's to do an inquiry it will just drop your score. Be sure to keep all bank statements, phone bills, utilites, credit card statements, ect and keep them in a folder for the next year and present them to your lender when you are ready to purchase your home. You will be fine when the time comes and I am sure you will be offered a great rate on your home purchese. Good luck
8. Ah, the mindset of the middle class. The FICO score, aka the "I LOVE DEBT SCORE." Since WHEN has debt ever been a blessing to you? I'm not seeing it. Before you do ANYTHING else, listen to this. Scroll down and click "Listen to Dave". JUST LISTEN. http://www.daveramsey.com/tdrs/index.cfm/2007/9/17/Getting-rich This one audio clip of his CHANGED MY LIFE when I heard it. Listen to this man for free, on the radio or online. This is like getting financial wisdom from Bill Gates except this guy has a national radio show.