Credit and Credit Scores

If you’ve ever applied for a loan, credit card, or even a phone contract, chances are you’ve come across the term “hard enquiry.” These enquiries are part of your credit profile and can influence how lenders view your financial responsibility. But many people are confused about what exactly a hard enquiry is, how it affects…

Whether you’re applying for a credit card, mortgage, car loan, or even renting an apartment, your credit report will likely be reviewed by a lender or landlord. One crucial component of that credit report is credit inquiries. While they may seem minor, understanding how inquiries work can help you better manage your credit profile, avoid…

Introduction In a world where financial decisions often speak louder than words, your creditworthiness tells a story one that lenders, landlords, and even employers are reading. Whether you’re applying for a credit card, seeking a home loan, or simply trying to rent an apartment, your credit profile acts like your financial résumé. But what exactly…

Rent Reporting for Landlords As a landlord, ensuring consistent and on-time rent payments is critical for maintaining steady cash flow and long-term profitability. Yet, many tenants are unaware that their monthly rent payments could help them build or improve their credit score. This is where Rent Reporting for Landlords comes in—by reporting rent payments to…

Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your financial life—it affects your ability to get loans, credit cards, and even rent an apartment. While most people know that late payments hurt their score, many hidden habits silently drag it down without them realizing it. But here’s the good news: If you rent…

Introduction For many renters, monthly rent payments are their largest expense, yet they often go unreported on credit reports. That’s changing with retroactive rent reporting, a growing trend that allows you to add past rent payments to your credit history. But does previous rent actually boost your credit score? And how far back can you report it? In this guide, we’ll…

Rent Reporting: The Credit Building Tool Renters Have Been Missing Every month, millions of responsible renters make their rent payments on time—often prioritizing this expense over others to keep up with their biggest financial obligation. It’s ironic, though, that while rent is typically someone’s largest monthly bill, these consistent payments usually don’t help build their…

Introduction Starting April 1, 2025 , California landlords with 15 or more residential rental units will be required to comply with this, a groundbreaking law that mandates rent payment reporting to major credit bureaus. This legislation gives tenants an opportunity to build credit simply by paying rent on time—a significant step toward financial inclusion. However,…