If you’re even considering buying a home, get serious about your credit score. Get your score as high as possible, then maintain it—even for as long as one to two years. A boring yet healthy credit profile is exactly what lenders want to see when considering your mortgage application.
That means you should skip applying for a new credit card or car loan in the year or two leading up to your home purchase. You should strive to pay off as much debt as possible, and make sure any late payments get covered up in your credit history by a long string of on-time payments. If you work to fortify your credit score with plenty of time before you do apply for a mortgage, you can make sure there are no surprises when you see the rates available based on your credit report.