Recovery from bad past behaviors
I have a history of many late payments as I had been unemployed and then under-employed for over a year. With a 50% decrease in my income during that time, I got to 90 days on some things and at least to 30 or 60 on nearly everything. Ultimately I sold my home, and paid off all my debts. However, my credit is very poor now.
I am living with my parents for a time before I purchase another home so that I can save about $30,000 to put toward equity in my next home. Given the market, real estate and moving expenses, I did not have a lot of equity left from my previous home sale after I paid my debts. Now, my only debt is my car, which I am paying on time, and a $3,000 line of credit which I am paying down (and which has never been paid late, so I feel is worth keeping open but not using). I have only one credit card that I use, and pay the entire balance every month on it. I also have a store card which has a zero balance, and which I am keeping open but not using. I had a gas card which was cancelled by the company due to late payments and I was unsuccessful in my efforts to get them to reconsider.
In a year, I would like to buy another home but I know that with the current market for mortgages, I will not qualify. What can I do that I've not already begun doing to increase my credit rating? I had been irresponsible for a few years about making payments on a timely basis, then learned I had ADHD and began to turn it around with help (this is a common problem for adults with ADHD) when I lost my job.
I'd appreciate any advice I can get!
Thank you!