Want a Better Credit Score Before Buying or Refinancing? Start Here.

If you’re planning to buy or refinance in Santa Barbara County, your credit score is one of the most powerful tools you have — and also one of the most misunderstood. I get this question every week: "How do I get a better score, fast?" The truth? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But there is a smarter way to approach it — starting with calling me first, before you make a single financial move.

5 Real-World Credit Tips (That Actually Help)

1. Call Me First — Seriously

Most damage happens after people try to "fix" their credit on their own. I’ll pull a soft credit report (won’t affect your score) and walk you through your current standing, what matters, and what’s not worth stressing over.

2. Let’s Talk Timelines & Goals

Are you buying next month or six months from now? Refi in the fall? The answer will shape how aggressive we get. Timing determines whether we do quick fixes or long-game planning.

3. Pay Down Credit Cards Strategically

Don’t just throw money randomly at balances. I’ll help you use utilization ratios to improve your score faster — often without needing to pay everything off.

💡 Pro tip: Keeping cards below 30% of their limit is key. Under 10% is even better.

4. Avoid Big Purchases

Don’t buy furniture, a car, or anything with financing before your mortgage credit pull. Even inquiring about financing can drop your score 5–15 points. Hold off — let’s time it right.

5. Explore Rapid Rescoring (If Needed)

If you’ve just paid something off or removed a dispute, I can often trigger a rapid rescore — and improve your score within 3–5 days. Perfect for borrowers right on the edge of a better rate tier.

Bonus Insight:

In areas like Los Olivos and Santa Ynez, where jumbo loans are more common, even a 10-point credit bump can make a $20K+ difference in rate savings. Small wins = big results.

Thinking about buying or refinancing?