The information in your credit report has a huge impact on whether or not you qualify for a mortgage loan and what interest rate a lender will offer. Therefore, its important your credit report reflects a positive image of the way you manage your money. If you're getting ready to buy a home, checking your credit report is the best way to ensure you get the loan and interest rate you deserve.

One way to see whats in your credit report is to contact the three national credit reporting agencies Equifax www.equifax.com,
Experian www.experian.com and TransUnion www.transunion.com - and request a copy from each. Thats because the three agencies are independent of each other and the information may differ on all three reports.

You are also entitled to a free annual report at www.annualcreditreport.com You can also obtain your credit report for all three bureaus from www.myfico.com for a small fee. It is worth paying a little extra to get your FICO credit score from either of these two sites. The score is how lenders rate and price rates to you based on past credit history.

If you've been denied credit, insurance, or employment because of information in your credit report from any of the three agencies, you can obtain a free credit report by contacting the agency within 60 days of receiving a denial notice.

Whether you are thinking of buying a home or simply curious about whats in your credit report,  its important to correct any errors you discover as soon as possible.  You dont want errors in your credit report  affecting your eligibility for credit in the future. Ideally you should allow three months minimum to correct any errors before applying for a home loan.