A lender considering whether to approve you for a home mortgage will examine your credit history—your record of paying back loans, including credit card bills. If you have a “good” credit history of repaying loans on time and in full, you can usually get approved for loans with lower interest rates. If you have a “bad” credit history of missing payments or paying only minimum balances, you’ll typically get higher-interest loans and sometimes can’t get approved for a loan at all. If you’re thinking about buying a house—even years from now—make sure you maintain good credit.