Credit Score Management

I have recently paid off everything on my credit report. My credit score is slowly creeping up. I, like a lot of people, screwed up my credit when I was younger and am paying for it now. My Scores range from 579 – 618. Can someone give me some feedback please?

I filed for bankruptcy in 2007, my current credit score is 640. How can I raise my credit score before purchasing a home?

I am looking to buy a small SUV sometime in the fall/winter but know that I need to improve my credit score in order to get a better APR than I have now. What credit score are most vehicle lenders looking for?

I am preparing to buy a home within the next six months or so. I need to know what my credit score needs to be in order to qualify for a decent loan.

My husband and I are buying a car jointly, but we don’t have fantastic credit because we recently bought a house and various things that made our credit take some huge hits. Is there a particular score that they look for when you buy a car?