get a copy from a rent-a center on stuff that i purchased, to show good payment history for the past couple of years(puchased a washer and dryer on a 2 year payment plan, and was never late), if i don't have a lot of good payment history on my credit report?

if so, will this help get a home loan by showing something like this to them?

So far Brian is the only answer that shows any sign of a clue. Unless you have actually SEEN your credit report, you really don't know what it shows. In order for documentation of your Rent-a-Center payment history to help, you would have to find a lender that does Manual Underwriting. This is a fancy term for the old fashion method of actually examining your finances instead of simply comparing your FICO score to a predetermined threshold. If you income is sufficient and your other debts are not excessive, a positive credit history is not required, as long as you don't have a negative history.

No that won't help, they will know your credit history in total. You would be better off spending a year focusing on paying off any old debt and getting debt free and having better credit before you get a mortgage. You will get annihilated on interest rates if you take a mortgage with bad credit and probably even find it unattainable in reality. You might get a loan, but it will be "bad" debt at too high an interest rate.

Sure you can, but it won't matter.

The fact that you rented a washer and paid twice the price by the time you were done does NOT show good judgemnt.

I am pretty sure those places don't report to credit bureaus, so all of that probably did nothing for your credit.


Based on your question, I highly doubt that you are ready for a home.

Start saving until you have AT LEAST 10% to put down plus a CASH EMERGENCY FUND of at least three month's expenses. Build up your credit, THEN look at a house.

If you have bad credit, you will get a horrible interest rate and end up paying a fortun in interest. You alreday did that with your rent-to-own stuff. Start being SMART about how you are using money.

Also, most high risk mortgages are gone. Have you read the paper or watched the news this month? There are probably not going to be many sub-prime loans given out in the near future.

[Hedwig]

The first thing you need to do is get copies of your credit reports from each of the three credit reporting agencies. See what is there, and if it is reporting correctly or not.

As someone pointed out, this payment history probably won't help you. You need to have a mix of credit, and a lot of emphasis is put on revolving debt.

If I were you, I would start saving, as a previous poster stated. Many people get into financial trouble when they don't realize how much money you need just to maintain a house. You can't call the landlord when something needs to be fixed. You either do it yourself or call someone--except now you have to pay them.

I would also apply for a credit card. If you can't get an unsecured card, try for a secured card that doesn't report as secured. Charge something every month and pay it off. Use it for things you would use cash for, and put the cash aside to pay it.

Go to your credit union or bank, open a savings account, then apply for a loan secured by your savings account. Repay it according to the terms of the loan. Try to get a one-year loan, so in a year you'll have a year's worth of managing a credit card and a paid installment loan on your reports. You'll also have some money in the bank, and you'll be on your way to buying a house.