So, you’ve decided next year is the year you’re finally going to buy a house. Congrats! But now you’re a little panicked because your credit score isn’t exactly going to make lenders swoon.

You’re not alone. The national average credit score is 695, while only half of consumers fall in the desired 700-plus range. Although you certainly can get a mortgage with that score, you’ll need a 740 or higher to get the best rates. And that point is not lost on potential home buyers, 45% of whom wait for their credit scores to improve before applying for a mortgage.

While credit history isn’t built (or, for that matter, destroyed) overnight, there are still some things you can do right now to boost your credit score—fast. Here are some ways you can improve that all-important three-digit number in record time.

1. Pay down your balances like a ninja

Paying down your debt is the thing you can do that could have the biggest—and fastest—impact on your credit. Credit utilization (or the amount you can borrow versus the amount of debt you’re carrying) accounts for 30% of your credit score. And the more available credit you have, the better. If you have the cash on hand, try to time your payments so you’re reaping the credit-reporting benefits. The easiest way is to use a credit card and pay your balance down to 1% of your credit limit right before your bank reports to the credit bureaus.

2. Get your bills current, move stealthily

You hopefully already know that you have to pay your bills on time to get a good score. If you’re already late on a payment, pay it ASAP for a quick credit boost. Because paying bills on time is the most important factor in a credit score, going from paying one or more bills late each month to paying all on time could show an improvement in one to two months.

3. Open a new account hidden warrior

Opening a new credit account can help in two ways. First: If you open up a new card, which increases your total outstanding credit line, your utilization should improve. Second: If you have only one type of credit card or a small loan, opening another type (like a store card) can help your “credit mix,” a term the credit bureaus use to indicate whether a person can handle different kinds of accounts.

But don’t go nuts—try opening just one new account, at least at first. If you apply for a card every time you’re asked whether you want 10% off your purchase today, you’ll take a hit on the number of recent inquiries. And that won’t look good.

 Get ready HOUSE, here you come Bounty Hunter!

If you are considering buying or selling, please contact a REALTOR®, a member of the Medina County Board of REALTORS®. MedinaRealtors.com