Everyone wants a top of the line credit score — especially the score known as FICO, the one banks and other lenders must consider when deciding what kinds of interest rates you qualify for, and indeed whether you are credit worthy at all.  For many, the FICO score is a mysterious calculation that seems out of reach and beyond understanding.  Here are the factors that go into determining one’s FICO score:

All of these have a direct impact on your mortgage, and the lower your score is, the more your mortgage will cost you over time due to interest rates.  Below, this infographic will show you just how much more your FICO score could be costing you on the lifetime of your mortgage.