If you suspect there may be something on your credit report that might cause a problem, you should investigate it before you attempt to gain approval for your home loan prior to making an offer on a home.

The Federal law requires credit bureaus to share this information with you. In most instances, you may receive one in-file report per year at no charge. Call one or all of the major institutions and request one.

It may be difficult to understand, which is why they will send you a booklet explaining their code system. You may want to make an appointment with a credit counselor to answer any specific questions you may have.