 TITLE: How to Qualify for an FHA Loan CONTENT: Get Your Credit Ready Before You Apply\n--------------------------------------\nThe stronger your credit score, the better chance you have of getting approved for a mortgage and nabbing a lower interest rate. Before you apply for any loan, make sure you go over your credit report to understand where your credit stands and to address any potential issues you see.\nIf possible, start reviewing your credit three to six months before you think you'll apply for a mortgage loan. This will give you some time to improve your creditworthiness by doing things like reducing credit card balances, paying off debts and taking care of any inaccuracies that might need disputing on your credit report.\nYou can get your credit reports from all three major bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) for free through AnnualCreditReport.com. Your free credit score and report are also available directly through Experian. END