 TITLE: Can You Refinance a Mortgage in Forbearance? CONTENT: How to Make Sure Your Credit is Refinance-Ready\n-----------------------------------------------\nIf you're thinking about refinancing your mortgage loan, it's crucial to have your credit in good enough shape to make the process worth it. The better your credit score, the higher your chances of scoring a lower interest rate.\nTo start, check your credit score and your credit report to determine which areas you need to address. For example, if you're behind on payments with a creditor, work on getting current as quickly as possible. This won't necessarily improve your credit score immediately, but it could prevent further damage.\nOther ways to improve your credit score include:\n*   Work to pay down credit card debt and keep your account balances low relative to their credit limits.\n*   Review your credit report for inaccuracies and dispute information you believe to be incorrect with the credit reporting agencies.\n*   If you have a family member with a strong credit history and a credit card with good payment history, ask to be added as an authorized user.\n*   Avoid applying for new credit unless absolutely necessary.\n*   Avoid closing unused credit cards.\nWhile some of these steps can provide relatively quick results—such as paying off your credit cards—others may take more time. Depending on your current situation, you may benefit from taking more time to work on your credit to ensure better terms on the new loan. END