Why Your Credit Score Matters as a Renter

Importance of Credit When Renting a Student Apartment

Unfortunately, when it comes to finances, there are many terms and factors that can be difficult to understand. Because money can be a stressful topic, it may be hard to remain motivated to learn about these topics. However, it is imperative that you do so because the repercussions will drastically impact your life. Everyone has heard the term “credit score”, but do you actually know what it means? How does it practically impact your life? Why does your Gainesville student living want to check it? How do I increase my credit score?

How Does Credit Impact My Life?

Your credit score and credit history are used to prove your financial responsibility, for better or worse. When you are wanting to make a large purchase or investment that requires a company to trust you, they want some assurance that you will actually pay them or reimburse them depending on the situation. This is true whether you are wanting to get a loan, rent Gainesville apartments near UF, buy a house or a car. If you have a high credit score, the property manager at your preferred apartment complex will be more likely to accept your application, while the opposite is true if your score is low. Why would student housing near UF want to rent to you if you have a history of not paying your bills? Your credit score has the potential to make your life easier or exponentially much more difficult, so it is important to make sure you work hard to maintain a high score.

How Do I Maintain and Improve My Credit Score?

Your credit score is determined by your history of paying bills in full and on time. If you are consistently late in paying your bills, declare bankruptcy or go into foreclosure, your score will be much lower. In order to start a credit score, you need a credit card so you can begin paying it off regularly. As a college student, you may never have had one before but you should consider opening one. Ask your bank if they offer secured credit cards. Unlike traditional credit cards, you place a certain amount of money on the card and then use it. This method teaches you how to use credit cards responsibly. Though it takes time, the best way to increase your credit score is to pay your bills and UF housing rent regularly. To guarantee that you do not forget to pay your bills, you may want to consider setting up automatic payments. However, if you choose to do this, you need to keep an eye on your account so that you do not run out of money.

Build Your Credit Score While at UF

It is never too early to begin building your credit. The earlier you start, the quicker you will be able to have a higher score. This will make getting luxury apartments in Gainesville, FL an easy task and give you the confidence that you are setting yourself up for success in the future.