What affects a buyer's credit rating?

Thankfully the combination of factors used to rate creditworthiness is improving.  I especially appreciate and agree that a person's "credit used" compared to the "credit limit" available is a better guide than it used to be.  This is so because credit card issuers are doing a better job of evaluating who should get credit, how much, and at what rate.  Here is an article that is an easy read and makes some useful points on the subject of credit ratings.

http://www.realestatearticles.org/