If you want a better score, PAY DOWN BALANCES to 10% of your available credit or less and try to increase your credit limits. Also, don't run up a large balance on your cards during the month (even if you pay it down/off) and don't apply for new credit accounts. The FICO score breaks down like this: 35% payment history (any late payments, collections?) 30% utilization (debt to credit limit ratio... the lower the better) 15% length of credit history (the longer the better, also takes into account the average age of accounts) 10% mix of credit (don't fool with this, it may very well backfire) 10% search for new credit (don't apply for new credit accounts... if you want a mortgage, do so within a 14-day period and it will be, for credit reasons, only counted as ONE inquiry for calculating your score) Some mortgage lenders will want you to close credit card accounts because they're afraid that you'll run up debt. Don't do this as it will likely hurt your credit score. If they insist, you can compromise by lowering your accounts' credit limits AFTER you've been made a firm offer for the mortgage. Accounts older than 7 years should still be on there, but unless you went through a bankruptcy or have a judgment, should only contain positive information.