Generally, yes. The short answer is that if something shows up on your credit report as unpaid and is counting toward your score being pulled down, you would need to pay it to raise your score. Even if your score is decent enough and the unpaid items are not bringing your score down enough to be refused a mortgage, the lender might require that certain unpaid items be cleared.

Remember the lender is giving you the money to buy the house based on your credit history. The lending institution doesn’t know you personally and your credit history is the only introduction they will ever have to your payment patterns.

But be careful: there may be some items on your credit that are considered “charge-offs” and paying these might hurt your score because they may raise old skeletons. Be sure to find a mortgage broker who is willing to work with you to understand your credit report and identify which items need to be paid before paying them.

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