How can having a spouse affect your credit? Your spouse's credit will only affect your credit report and credit score if you jointly apply for credit like a home loan. It depends on the spouse's credit report...
It depends on the spouse's credit report and if you are applying for things jointly. If you are applying for something in your name and your name only, they shouldn't even look at your spouse's report. If you are trying to buy a house with good credit and your spouse has bad credit, that spouse will impact you negatively. If you both have good credit and your income is low while your spouse's income is high, it affects you positively, because they will consider the higher income as well as yours. You can qualify for more help. It could work either way depending on the circumstances.
Make sure you don't have any bad accounts still unpaid. Most mortgage lenders will see that you had a problem that's been paid off and not worry about it. If they don't see anything bad in the last 8-12 months, they know it was a short-term problem and that you are back on track. If you have negative information, you might want to apply for credit in the name of the one who has good information and then later add the other person as an authorized user on an account. If you are trying to buy a house, they are going to look at both reports if you are using both incomes.
