When it comes to buying a house, it’s no secret that credit scores matter. The higher your scores, the easier your access to the most sought after mortgage terms and interest rates.

To be sure, you don’t need sky-high credit to land a home loan. That’s especially true for VA home loans, which tend to feature more flexible and forgiving credit standards. But a solid credit profile can help maximize your budget and your buying power.

Here’s a look at three common mistakes that can hurt your credit, along with some simple yet concrete solutions.