If you're thinking about buying a home, you should spend some time thinking about your credit history and credit score. The first step in making sure you have good credit is to understand how credit works, and how your credit history is viewed by creditors.

Before you even think about buying a home, you should ask yourself two questions: "What's my credit score?" and "How do I raise it?" Knowing your credit score will help you negotiate a good interest rate on your mortgage, and if you can raise your score, you'll get a loan with a lower interest rate.