Credit scores can make or break your first-home dream — but most of what you’ve heard about them is wrong. In this essential step of the How to Buy a Home system, David Sidoni cuts through the myths and reveals how to build the kind of credit that actually gets you approved. Whether your score is 820 or 520, this episode shows you exactly how to work with — not against — the credit system so you can buy smarter and sooner.

Your credit score isn’t a judgment of character — it’s a math formula that lenders use to decide how much you’ll pay for your mortgage.

In this episode, David breaks down how that number really works and why time is your most powerful tool for improving it. From insider tips shared by national credit experts to easy-to-follow habits that raise your score month by month, this is the complete roadmap for turning your credit from a roadblock into a launchpad.

Listeners will learn:

• Why the credit system moves slowly — and how to use that delay to your advantage
• The “Big Three” pillars (credit, debt, and savings) that work together to boost buying power
• How early planning — two to three years before you buy — creates the best loan options
• Why even small positive steps add up to big results over time
• The real truth about FICO, credit pulls, and what lenders actually see

If you’ve ever worried that your credit isn’t “good enough,” this episode gives you proof — and a plan — that it can be.

“Negative changes happen fast, but positive changes happen slowly — and that’s exactly why time is your biggest advantage.”

Highlights

• Credit myths, busted: What’s real, what’s internet noise, and what actually affects your score.
• The Big Three explained: How credit, debt, and savings combine to shape your buying power.
• Start early: The 2-to-3-year rule for maximizing your credit results before you apply.
• Beat the bureaus’ delay: Learn why patience and consistency win the credit game.
• No quick fixes: Why there’s no magic wand — just smart steps and time.
• Confidence over fear: Even low scores can rise; the key is knowing where to start and sticking with it.

Referenced Episodes

349 – Credit Score Solutions for First-Time Buyers (INTERVIEW)

304 – Improve Your Credit: Homebuying 101 – Step 3

199 – Boomer’s Homes Were CHEAPER – Plus Credit Pull Myths!

90 – Credit Repair for 300-669 – “Bad” or “Fair” Credit Scores

64 – Credit Tips for First-Time Home Buyers from Jeanne Kelly, National FICO Expert

61 – More FICO Fun – Some Good News (For Once) About Credit Scores & Hacks

56 – The Advanced Hack to Raise Your Credit Score and Get Extra Cash for Your Down Payment

8 – Quick Credit Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

3 – What Do You Need to Know About Credit

182 – Interview: From ZERO Credit Score to Homeowner

198 – PMI Is a Privilege

216 – PMI Is Still a Privilege and Still Not the Devil

OFFICIAL 2025 EPISODE GUIDE

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David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

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