How to Get 600 or More on Your Credit Score

Whether you're hoping to score a mortgage, a home equity loan or an auto loan, getting the thumbs-up from a lender has gotten a lot harder in recent months.

Thanks to the ongoing subprime lending mess, lenders have tightened credit standards. Meanwhile, however, interest rates remain relatively low, making this a good time to borrow if you qualify to do so.

As of Jan. 3, the average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 6.07%, according to Freddie Mac(FRE Quote). ...