<prompt> Human: After many years of saying that i would start paying down my lousy 5k debt down, I finally did it this year. After being turned down for a mortgage and being brainwashed on my first car buy, life sucks somewhat. We have gotten back on track and used money more respoinsibly even credit cards also. Our lousy credit that I ruined because of me is now going back up slowly. We currently sit at 570ish on both my SO and mines. I have paid off the credit card debt and plan on getting rid of my car payment also and my outrageous cell bill for many useless upgrades I did. I have come to a realization that I might have to wait a year or more just to be approved for a mortgage loan, it helps I can use the time to expand my E-Fund and get a fat down payment. Seems like that is the only way left, no one wants to refinance my car for a lower apr so Ill pay it off and keep it. Anyone know how long it will be until I can buy a house? I had some past deliquencys on my credit in the past few years. Through hard times this past fall I missed a few payments on my credit cards and lost all hope. I pushed myself back into motion after I decided it was time to put this money to work for me. I make about 53k per year and upto 100k with overtime. Will it take more than a year? Everything is fixed, no more creditor accounts, money being saved and everything paid on time. If it will take long I will put the money in a term account with my credit union, 1.65 for 15 months. Any tips appreciated!  <response>: It all depends on dates. Building credit takes time, a long time, years.Destroying it can take as little as 30 days. 