Road to 700 — Credit Action Checklist

Why 700: it's the gate for your first-time-investor DSCR path (UWM Orange: DSCR > 1.0 & FICO > 700) and it lowers cost on every loan. Utilization is the fastest lever — fix that first and you can move 20–40+ points in one or two statement cycles. This is the editable, in-browser version — your check marks and entries save automatically on this device.

⚠️ Track the RIGHT score. Mortgages use the mortgage FICO models (FICO 2/4/5), the middle of your three bureaus — NOT the Credit Karma / card-app score (those are VantageScore and usually run higher). Get your real mortgage middle score from a lender soft-pull or myFICO. Aim the 700 at that number.

Your numbers

Score tracker

Starting (mortgage mid)

Current

Target

Points to go

Card utilization — keep each <10% (under 30% minimum)

Card	Balance	Limit	Utilization	Pay down to (<10%)

Enter balance + limit; utilization and the <10% target auto-calculate. Pay each card down to that number before the statement cuts — the statement balance is what reports.

The action plan

Now — Week 1 (setup)

Pull all 3 credit reports — free weekly at annualcreditreport.com. Skim for errors. Get your real mortgage middle score (lender soft-pull or myFICO) — not Credit Karma. List every card above with balance + limit. Note each statement closing date. Set autopay (at least the minimum) on EVERY account — payment history is the #1 long-term factor.

Days 1–30 — utilization sprint (biggest, fastest gains)

Pay every card under 10% of its limit (under 30% at minimum). Pay balances before the statement cuts, not just by the due date — the statement balance is what reports to the bureaus. Request credit-limit increases on existing cards (lowers utilization without spending less; ask for soft-pull CLIs where possible). Dispute any errors found on your reports (wrong balances, duplicate/old collections, accounts that aren't yours).

Days 30–90 — protect & build

Do NOT open new accounts or take hard inquiries before you apply for the mortgage. Do NOT close old cards — they hold your credit age and available credit (helps utilization). Optional boosts: become an authorized user on a seasoned, low-utilization card; try Experian Boost (utilities/streaming) and rent reporting. If you have collections: research pay-for-delete / settlements carefully before paying (newer models weigh paid collections less — don't accidentally re-age one). Re-pull your middle score monthly and log it in the tracker above.

When you're close (near application)

Ask your lender about a rapid rescore — pay down a card or clear a dispute, re-pull in days to bump the qualifying score right before submission. Confirm with your AE that the score hits the UWM Orange threshold (FICO > 700) on the mortgage middle score.

Dispute log

Date	Bureau	Item disputed	Status / outcome