It will take about six months of credit activity to establish enough history for a FICO credit score, which is used in 90% of lending decisions. 1 FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850, and a score of over 700 is considered a good credit score. Scores over 800 are considered excellent.
Give it some time
But it also suggests that building credit takes time and patience, as you need to establish a track record of financial responsibility. In fact, reaching an excellent credit score of 750+ generally takes 5 or more years.
A 750 credit score could qualify you for a $200,000 30-year mortgage, at a rate of 3.625%. That translates to a monthly payment of $912. With a credit score of 625 however, your rate would be 4.125% for a mortgage of the same size and term. This would result in a monthly payment of $969.
The amount of time it takes to go from a 700 to 800 credit score could take as little as a few months to several years.
Credit Karma isn't a credit bureau, which means we don't determine your credit scores. Instead, we work with Equifax and TransUnion to provide you with your free credit reports and free credit scores, which are based on the VantageScore 3.0 credit score model.
It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly payments.
Things become even more complicated when you learn that, even with a perfect payment history for the first six months of your credit report, you're probably only going to have a credit score around 500.
70% of U.S. consumers' FICO® Scores are higher than 650. What's more, your score of 650 is very close to the Good credit score range of 670-739. With some work, you may be able to reach (and even exceed) that score range, which could mean access to a greater range of credit and loans, at better interest rates.
Why your Credit Karma credit score differs
Your score can then differ based on what bureau your credit report is pulled from since they don't all receive the same information about your credit accounts. Secondly, different credit score models (and versions) exist across the board.
Credit Karma receives information from two of the top three credit reporting agencies. This indicates that Credit Karma is likely off by the number of points as the lack of information they have from Experian, the third provider that does not report to Credit Karma.
You can get a free FICO® Score from hundreds of financial services companies, including banks, credit unions, credit card issuers and credit counselors that participate in the FICO® Score Open Access program and offer free scores to customers.
Your payment history is the most important factor in determining your credit score. Making on-time payments every month is crucial to getting your credit score above 700. If you have some late payments on your credit report, it may make it more difficult to build your credit score.
Every month you pay your card's bill on time will bump your credit score up, so set a routine and you can grow your creditworthiness quickly — as long as you can avoid missing a credit card payment.
Credit scores start at 300; sometimes higher, depending on which scoring system is used. According to FICO, you must have at least one credit account that's been open for at least six months, and one credit account that's been reported to credit bureaus within the past six months to have a credit score.
Depending on where you're starting from, It can take several years or more to build an 800 credit score. You need to have a few years of only positive payment history and a good mix of credit accounts showing you have experience managing different types of credit cards and loans.
A 784 credit score is Very Good, but it can be even better. If you can elevate your score into the Exceptional range (800-850), you could become eligible for the very best lending terms, including the lowest interest rates and fees, and the most enticing credit-card rewards programs.