 TITLE: Will a Mortgage Preapproval Hurt My Credit Scores? CONTENT: How to Get Your Credit Ready for a Mortgage\n-------------------------------------------\nReview your credit profile before you seek a mortgage or mortgage preapproval and, if needed, take steps to improve your credit before the lender checks it. Ideally you should begin this process at least a year before you start house hunting, but even a few months of focused activity can help you spruce up your score.\nYou can take the following steps to help get your credit ready for the mortgage process:\n*   Check your credit score. When you do so, be sure to review the risk factors that accompany it, since these are the items in your credit report that are having the biggest negative impact on your score.\n*   Go over your credit reports and correct any fraud or inaccuracies that could be hurting your credit score. Free credit monitoring from Experian can help you quickly spot any credit irregularities.\n*   Stop applying for new credit and limit credit card purchases to avoid increasing your utilization ratio.\n*   Reduce how much you owe and try to pay down debt, especially high credit card balances.\n*   Focus on paying all your bills on time.\nIf you plan ahead and spruce up your credit score beforehand, you can increase the likelihood of mortgage preapproval, minimize the impact of the modest credit score reduction that comes with the preapproval process and embark on your quest for a home well-equipped for success. END