 TITLE: Does Your Credit Score Affect Homeowners Insurance? CONTENT: Improve Your Credit to Qualify for Better Homeowners Insurance Rates\n--------------------------------------------------------------------\nYou may be able to get homeowners insurance with bad credit, but improving your credit may help you qualify for lower insurance premiums. It can also lead to lower rates on loans and credit cards, and may open up an opportunity to save more money by refinancing your mortgage.\nFortunately, many of the moves you can make to improve your credit-based insurance scores will also improve your other credit scores. Focus on:\n*   Paying your bills on time\n*   Paying down debts\n*   Maintaining a low utilization rate\nImproving your credit can also be partially a waiting game because a longer credit history can lead to higher scores, and the impact of negative items decreases over time. You can look for ways to build credit while you're waiting, such as opening a credit card (if you don't have one) or taking out a credit-builder loan and making your payments on time. END