ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Association of Mortgage Brokers has recommended consumers considering buying a home to meet with a mortgage professional to discuss how to improve their credit score and profile. Among the MAMB's suggestions on ways consumers can improve their credit score before purchasing their home are: * all credit card balances should be paid to below 30% of the available credit limit on the card. * do not consolidate credit card accounts to one or two cards and close out the other accounts. Consolidating credit card balances will "noticeably distort" the appearance of the consumer's use of their credit card. "Having a low balance on several cards is better than having a high balance on one or two cards where exceeding more than 30% of your available credit limit would indicate the consumer was a higher credit risk profile." * keep credit cards active and open by using them at least once every five months. When a consumer receives the bill for a credit card they don't use that often, they should pay the bill in full. Do not close accounts.