The credit score and your housing search
In the United States, the credit score is a number from 300 to 850 that reflects your payment history. Many landlords check it before approving your rental application.
What is considered a good score?
| Range | Rating |
|-------|-------------|
| 750-850 | Excellent |
| 700-749 | Good |
| 650-699 | Fair |
| 600-649 | Poor |
| Below 600 | Low |
Most landlords look for a score of 620 or more, although some accept lower scores with additional conditions.
How to build credit from scratch
If you have just arrived in the USA, you probably have no credit history. You can start building it:
Factors that affect your score
How to check your credit for free
You can get your free credit report once a year at annualcreditreport.com, the only site authorized by the federal government. Many banks and apps also show your score at no cost.
Remember: checking your own credit does NOT lower your score.