Housing prices are softer, but you can get yourself an even better deal when it comes to a loan program if your credit score is the best it can be.
Boosting your credit score from, say, 660 to just 740 can actually lower your mortgage rate by a quarter of a point. To improve your credit score, the key is to focus on paying down debt, which will bring your crucial debt-to-credit ratio down.
This is a great time to do your financial planning for 2009. If you’re considering a purchase in the next year, it’s an excellent idea to get your credit score in shape as your first priority.