Getting That 800-850 Credit Score...
Approximately 1% of the population has perfect credit, meaning a perfect FICO score of 850.
It's no big secret. If you look into an 850 credit file you will notice a few factors and no special tricks.
Here are the factors...
Between four and six revolving accounts (meaning credit cards).
At least one "installment" tradeline (e.g., a mortgage or auto loan) in good standing.
A few accounts around 20 years old with a long history of positive use. (To get into the 800 range, you need 10 years of positive account history.)
Around 30 years of credit use.
No late payments (or other account blunders) for at least the past seven years.
Very few credit inquiries (no more than one to three in a six-month period).
No derogatory notations -- collections, bankruptcies, etc.
Debt levels on credit accounts of less than 35% of the overall credit limit.