Credit Score Simulator

I’m thinking about buying a house, I wanna check my credit score online. What is a reliable place to check it? Do you guys have any free tools online?

I have a client wondering whether it makes more sense to just allow her house to foreclose or try to do a short sale.
Her financial advisor advised her she should let it go to foreclosure because if she opts for a short sale, she’ll get a 1099 for the difference between what she owes and what the bank ends up selling the property for. AND of course, she’ll have to pay taxes on that 1099 income.
I’m a Realtor and my thoughts are she should do a short pay because if she goes to foreclosure, she’ll be responsible for that difference PLUS costs which will amount to much more than paying taxes (Plus you can always strike a deal with the IRS for a payment plan without it affecting your credit). The bank that has the deed to her property isn’t going to let her get away free if she forecloses. They’ll come after her for that money with those fees for years, years.
And, with a short pay, the account comes up “settled” in her credit report.

My question: How does one’s credit score differ between a short pay and a foreclosure? Is there a big difference?

What scoring model is the Credit Score Simulator based on?

What is the difference between a hard pull and soft pull during the mortgage loan process. I heard the hard credit pull drops the credit scores of the mortgage loan borrower. So if the borrower keeps shopping for mortgage rates with different lenders, the borrowers credit scores can plummet?

I have a question I asked multiple people who are called expert loan officers and credit repair geniuses but I am getting conflicting answers. I want to know if a consumer needs to get his credit scores up for a mortgage to a 640 FICO. He has never missed a monthly payment and has perfect payment history the past five years. He has 10 credit card accounts with all of them maxed to the credit limit. Here are the credit card balances and credit card limit. His middlw credit score is currently 525. Question is what credit card should he pay down the balance to lower his credit utilization ratio. Should he start paying down the lower limit credit first or should he pay down the higher credit limit credit card first. Here is his credit cards, the balances, and the credit limit.

CREDIT CARD. BALANCE LIMIT

1. DISCOVER $498. $500

2. CAPITAL ONE. $470. $500

3. CREDIT ONE. $490. $500

4. SELF VISA. $1,500. $1,490

5. TRUMP CARD $4,000. $4000.

6. JOURNEY CARD $2,130 $$2,200

7. CREDIT PLUS $3,490. ,$3,500

8. BUDDY VISA $1,500. $1,600

10. MISSION LANE $1498 $1,500

What is a credit score simulator and how does it work? How will a credit score simulator help me increase my credit score to qualify and get pre-approved for a mortgage? How do I get a credit score simulator? What is the process and steps to get approved for a mortgage with a low credit score?