Intuit Credit Karma
Once you’ve decided to buy, you’ll want to do what you can to improve your credit. That’s because it’s one of the biggest factors in determining your future mortgage interest rate that you have some control over.
It's no exaggeration to say your credit score can change your life. It can determine whether you get a job or own a home. It affects how much you pay for insurance. It influences how much you pay when you borrow, which determines how long it will take to become debt-free.
That's what the folks at CreditKarma.com figured out after examining credit data from TransUnion, one of the three major credit bureaus. Comparing credit scores state-by-state, they found that the average score in blue states is 667 -- 16 points higher than the 651 average in red states.
Plenty of websites help customers compare one credit card to another, but many of these sites also feature tools that help consumers solve other major credit problems. Here are a few of our favorites.
Credit scores have fallen across the United States since the start of the year, and although California’s average score has fallen, too, it still ranks No. 3 of all the states.
Since credit debt isn't exactly considered an income-booster, it's no wonder so many consumers forget how closely credit and taxes are intertwined. For insight into the little-known ways taxes and credit go hand in hand, we tapped Ken Lin, CEO of CreditKarma.com.
Since credit debt isn't exactly considered an income-booster, it's no wonder so many consumers forget how closely credit and taxes are intertwined. For insight into the little-known ways taxes and credit go hand in hand, we tapped Ken Lin, CEO of CreditKarma.com.
Since credit debt isn't exactly considered an income-booster, it's no wonder so many consumers forget how closely credit and taxes are intertwined. For insight into the little-known ways taxes and credit go hand in hand, we tapped Ken Lin, CEO of CreditKarma.com.
"I’m passionate about managing by results and data. As such, I spend half my day reviewing metrics. I analyze trends and look for areas of success and failure. I strongly believe that data is a driving force in the success of most companies."
Credit Karma, which offers free credit scores and scoring information, reports that residents in red states on average have lower credit scores than their blue-state cousins.