Joel DyckReal Broker SK Ltd.
Saskatoon · From the topic map

How can I improve my credit score before buying in 2026?

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada recommends starting with your own credit report and correcting any errors, since a mistaken late payment or an account that is not yours can drag the score down for no real reason. Paying down revolving balances relative to your limit is the next practical lever.

Revolving credit, credit cards and lines of credit, is weighed on utilization, how much of the limit is currently used, not just whether the minimum payment was made, so paying a card down to below 30 percent utilization before a lender pulls your file can move the number noticeably.

Avoid opening new credit or making a large purchase on a card in the months before you apply, since a lender reviewing your file wants to see stability, not fresh inquiries or rising balances right before a mortgage application.

A mortgage broker can review your actual file today and tell you which of these levers will move your score the most before you start touring homes. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

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