You’re finally starting to gain your footing after a slippery financial recession, and now is a great time to take advantage of interest rates on home loans. However, before you seize the economic opportunity to own your own home, there are a few things you should know about mortgage rates first. Stay ahead of the game with these tips on how to find the best home loan for your financial situation.

1. Clean up your credit. You should begin doing this before you even step foot in a lender’s office. Paying your bills on time is essential to building a good credit score, as well as making sure not to open up any new accounts for credit cards in the months prior to applying for a loan (this could drive your credit score down).