How Long Does it Take to Build Credit From 500 to 700? (2024)

It can take 12 to 18+ months to build your credit from 500 to 700. The exact timing depends on which types of negative marks are dragging down your score and the steps you take to improve your credit going forward.

You can use WalletHub’s free credit score simulator to find out how specific actions will affect your score and how long it will take to reach your credit score goal.

Average Recovery Time for Negative Marks on Your Credit Report

Action

Average Recovery Time

Applying for new credit

3 months

Closing an account

3 months

Maxing out a credit card

3 months

Missing a payment, default

1-2 years

Bankruptcy

7-10 years

Source: VantageScore

Derogatory marks, such as collections or bankruptcies, significantly lower your credit score. However, the negative impact declines as time goes on. You can expedite your credit score’s recovery, too.

How You Can Improve Your Credit Score From 500 to 700

To raise your score as soon as possible, you must inundate your credit reports with positive information. The two most important factors affecting your credit score are payment history and credit utilization. Below, we highlight some of the steps you can take to improve both.

Pay All of Your Bills on Time

You have to consistently pay all of your bills on time in order to build a good or excellent credit score. Even one late payment on your credit report can cause your score to fall by up to 100 points, or even more in some cases.

Late payments can indicate to lenders you are not reliable when it comes to managing your financial obligations, which can make it more difficult for you to obtain credit in the future. If you are having trouble making payments, you should contact your creditors as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Reduce Your Debt

The more debt you have, the worse it generally is for your credit score. You can employ a variety of strategies to help reduce your debt, including simple budgeting and using a balance transfer credit card or debt consolidation loan to lower the cost of what you owe.

In addition, you could attempt to negotiate with creditors to lower your interest rates or monthly payments, or seek professional guidance from a non-profit service. Effective debt management can help you improve your credit score and maintain financial stability in the long term.

Use a Secured Card Responsibly

You can use a secured credit card to build a history of on-time payments. Secured cards usually require a deposit, the amount of which also serves as your credit limit, making them easy for people with a 500 credit score to get approved for. You can compare the best secured cards for free here at WalletHub.

Bring Your Utilization Below 30%

Credit utilization measures how much of your credit limit you’re using, based on your monthly statement balance. It’s calculated for each line of credit you have as well as for all of them together. Keeping your utilization below 30% is good for your credit score, and a ratio of 1-10% is ideal. High credit utilization can signal that you are relying too heavily on credit and may not be able to manage your debts effectively.

You can use WalletHub’s free credit score simulator to find out how specific actions may help your credit and get personalized credit-improvement tips from our analysis tool.

This answer was first published on 04/04/23. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.

How Long Does it Take to Build Credit From 500 to 700? (2024)

FAQs

How Long Does it Take to Build Credit From 500 to 700? ›

The time it takes to raise your credit score from 500 to 700 can vary widely depending on your individual financial situation. On average, it may take anywhere from 12 to 24 months of responsible credit management, including timely payments and reducing debt, to see a significant improvement in your credit score.

How to go from a 500 credit score to 700? ›

6 easy tips to help raise your credit score
  1. Make your payments on time. ...
  2. Set up autopay or calendar reminders. ...
  3. Don't open too many accounts at once. ...
  4. Get credit for paying monthly utility and cell phone bills on time. ...
  5. Request a credit report and dispute any credit report errors. ...
  6. Pay attention to your credit utilization rate.

How long does it take to go from 550 to 700 credit score? ›

How Long Does It Take to Fix Credit? The good news is that when your score is low, each positive change you make is likely to have a significant impact. For instance, going from a poor credit score of around 500 to a fair credit score (in the 580-669 range) takes around 12 to 18 months of responsible credit use.

Is a 500 credit score bad? ›

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 500 FICO® Score is significantly below the average credit score. Many lenders choose not to do business with borrowers whose scores fall in the Very Poor range, on grounds they have unfavorable credit.

Is 700 a good credit score to buy a house? ›

Yes. Assuming the rest of your finances are solid, a credit score of 700 should qualify you for all major loan programs: conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans all have lower minimum requirements, and even jumbo loans require a 700 score at minimum.

Is 650 a good credit score? ›

As someone with a 650 credit score, you are firmly in the “fair” territory of credit. You can usually qualify for financial products like a mortgage or car loan, but you will likely pay higher interest rates than someone with a better credit score. The "good" credit range starts at 690.

Is 580 a good credit score? ›

Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.

How can I raise my credit score 100 points overnight? ›

10 Ways to Boost Your Credit Score
  1. Review Your Credit Report. ...
  2. Pay Your Bills on Time. ...
  3. Ask for Late Payment Forgiveness. ...
  4. Keep Credit Card Balances Low. ...
  5. Keep Old Credit Cards Active. ...
  6. Become an Authorized User. ...
  7. Consider a Credit Builder Loan. ...
  8. Take Out a Secured Credit Card.

How fast can you fix bad credit? ›

It may take a few months to recover from a hard inquiry, a few months (or years) to recover from a 30-day late payment, and much longer to recover from a 90-day late payment or other major negative mark (such as a foreclosure).

How to raise your credit score 200 points in 30 days? ›

How to Raise your Credit Score by 200 Points in 30 Days?
  1. Be a Responsible Payer. ...
  2. Limit your Loan and Credit Card Applications. ...
  3. Lower your Credit Utilisation Rate. ...
  4. Raise Dispute for Inaccuracies in your Credit Report. ...
  5. Do not Close Old Accounts.
Aug 1, 2022

Is a 900 credit score possible? ›

Highlights: While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.

How rare is a 750 credit score? ›

Your credit score helps lenders decide if you qualify for products like credit cards and loans, and your interest rate. You are one of the 48% of Americans who had a score of 750 or above as of April 2023, according to credit scoring company FICO.

Can I buy a house with a credit score of 460? ›

Key takeaways. You can get a mortgage with a credit score as low as 620, 580 or even 500, depending on the type of loan. Some mortgage lenders offer bad credit loans with more flexible qualifying requirements but higher costs. Others offer free credit counseling to help you improve your score before applying for a loan ...

How much income do you need to qualify for a $300 000 mortgage? ›

How much do I need to make to buy a $300K house? To purchase a $300K house, you may need to make between $50,000 and $74,500 a year. This is a rule of thumb, and the specific salary will vary depending on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, type of home loan, loan term, and mortgage rate.

How much house can I afford on a 70K salary? ›

The house you can afford on a $70K income will likely be between $290,000 to $310,000. Aside from your gross monthly income, lenders look at your credit report, down payment, monthly debt payments (including car payments and personal loans), and your estimated mortgage rate, among other things.

What credit score is needed to buy a $300K house? ›

The required credit score to buy a $300K house typically ranges from 580 to 720 or higher, depending on the type of loan. For an FHA loan, the minimum credit score is usually around 580.

Can I recover from a 500 credit score? ›

A 500 credit score falls into the bad range. You'll have trouble getting credit, but your score can recover.

How to increase credit score by 100 points in 30 days? ›

Steps you can take to raise your credit score quickly include:
  1. Lower your credit utilization rate.
  2. Ask for late payment forgiveness.
  3. Dispute inaccurate information on your credit reports.
  4. Add utility and phone payments to your credit report.
  5. Check and understand your credit score.
  6. The bottom line about building credit fast.

How to get credit score from 550 to 750? ›

Taking these steps could help you increase your credit score from the fair range to the good range and potentially nab you future savings:
  1. Check your credit reports.
  2. Pay all your bills on time.
  3. Focus on paying down your debts.
  4. Don't max out your credit cards.
  5. Maintain a variety of credit accounts.
Oct 28, 2023

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