680--the New 620

I'm not a lender but I do know that generally higher is better when it comes to credit scores. This was a recent syndicated column from Lew Sichelman regarding the increased importance of high credit scores.

Just a few months ago, a credit score of 620 would garner the best mortgage rates and terms. But many lenders now require a minimum of 680 for a prime loan. And some won't lend to anyone whose score is below that.

The full piece has some nice, legitimate overview information regarding steps to increase your credit score.