Updated article Originally published 04/2017 Building credit takes time. You can quite literally go grey while watching your FICO scores crawl toward a perfect 850, or you can try this quick-draw tip to help speed up the process. In the past I’ve shared some pointers for building up credit from square one, however, today’s trick is one you’ll want to use after you've opened up at least one credit card. What’s the trick, cowboy? This credit “cheat” should become an annual habi

It’s common knowledge that only bizillionaires can afford to buy homes in San Francisco. A slightly less known *and less fictional* fact, is that homeownership is an actual possibility for us thousand-aire residents of SF. The city of San Francisco, like some other metropolitan centers in the U.S., has created this magical possibility through a program meant to keep mid to low income residents around. Many of us here in the 7x7 potentially qualify but just don’t know about th

Do your credit reports have more trash in them than Madison Square Garden after a Stones concert? Or maybe they're just a little barren and need a jump-start? If you’re having trouble figuring out how to get your credit on the right track, you are not alone. The most common question I’ve heard since I became a Financial Counselor is, “How do I build good credit?” The good news: no matter how much wreckage you’ve crammed into your reports, you can always make improvements. Her

Are the best things in life really free? Money can score you a lot of great stuff. Usually more money equals better stuff, but when it comes to your credit report, the old adage is completely accurate: the best credit reports you can get are 100% free. Seriously? Free? Yes. Free! Thanks to a federal law passed in 1970, the three major credit bureaus are each required to provide you with a free copy of your credit reports on an annual basis. As a result of that law we have a