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📘

Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding—and Fixing—Your Credit Profile

If you’re serious about improving your credit score and unlocking better loan terms, the first step is simple: pull your credit report. Not just glance at a score—but actually read the report line by line. Because buried in that document could be the reason lenders are saying “not yet.”

Here’s how to pull your report, what to look for, and how to spot the red flags that could be costing you thousands.

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🔍 Where to Get Your Credit Report

You have three credit reports—one from each major bureau:

• Experian
• Equifax
• TransUnion

The easiest way to access all three for free is through AnnualCreditReport.com. You’re entitled to one free report from each bureau every 12 months. During certain periods (like post-denial or unemployment), you may qualify for additional free reports.

💡 Tip: Pull all three at once to compare them side by side. Errors often appear on one but not the others.

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📄 What to Look For in Your Report

Your credit report is broken into key sections. Here’s what each one means—and what to watch out for:

1. Personal Information

• Name, aliases, birthdate
• Social Security number
• Current and past addresses
• Employers

Red Flags:

• Misspelled names or unknown addresses
• Employers you’ve never worked for
• Could indicate identity theft or mixed files

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2. Accounts and Credit History

• Open and closed accounts
• Payment history
• Credit limits and balances
• Account status (current, late, charged off)

Red Flags:

• Late payments you don’t recognize
• Accounts you never opened
• Incorrect balances or credit limits
• Duplicate listings

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3. Credit Inquiries

• Hard inquiries: when lenders check your credit
• Soft inquiries: background checks, pre-approvals

Red Flags:

• Hard inquiries you didn’t authorize
• Multiple inquiries in a short time (can lower your score)

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4. Public Records

• Bankruptcies
• Foreclosures
• Tax liens or judgments

Red Flags:

• Any public record that’s inaccurate or outdated
• These can tank your score and scare off lenders

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🧠 Why This Matters for Funding

Lenders don’t just look at your score—they look at your report. One late payment, one collection, or one error can mean:

• Higher interest rates
• Lower loan amounts
• Denials from prime lenders

Cleaning up your report is one of the fastest ways to improve your score and qualify for better terms.

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🛠️ What to Do If You Spot Errors

You can dispute errors directly with each bureau:

• Online through their websites
• By mail with supporting documentation
• Most disputes are resolved within 30 days

Want help? Click here to connect with a trusted credit repair partner who can handle it for you.

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💬 Final Word

Your credit report is your financial resume. Reviewing it regularly—and fixing what’s broken—is the foundation for better funding, better terms, and better opportunities.

Stay tuned for Post 3: Fix What’s Broken—Disputes, Errors, and Fast Wins.

📞 Questions about funding? Call or text Mark directly
🌐 BusinessAndRealEstateLoans.com

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