Getting started but have bad personal credit

[Christopher Simmons]

I want to get started but fearful bad credit will prevent me from getting a mortgage or rehab loan. Any ideas on how to do so ?

[Marcia Maynard]

Credit score scales can differ, but the 300 - 850 scale is the most commonly used one.

• Excellent 800-850
• Very Good 740-799
• Good 670-739
• Fair 580-669
• Poor 300-579

Learn what it takes to build and maintain very good credit, 740+.  Not only will it open doors for you, it will also help you get the best interest rates. 800+ will put you in the excellent range, so that should be your ultimate goal, but that will take longer and require super keen attention to how you do things.  

Experian has a good article entitled "How to improve your credit score". Be wary of outfits that offer to help you improve your credit for a fee. Everything they do, you can do better without paying a dime.

Expect it to take 7 - 10 years to wipe your slate clean of any really bad financial mistakes you made in the past. In the meantime, start making good financial decisions to counteract the negative. 

Find out from lenders what is important to them and what credit score will get you the best interest rates. Some banks offer good advice too, such as Wells Fargo's article "How to get a loan".

Good Luck!