If you’re planning to buy a home, your credit score will play a major role in determining which mortgage options are available to you — and how much you’ll ultimately pay over the life of the loan.

While the rate of divorce in the United States is lower than it was a few decades ago, the financial impacts of ending a marriage in the U.S. can linger for years, federal data shows.

In many cases, divorced Americans have lower household incomes and less wealth than married adults, according to The Pew Research Center. Pew mined federal data to uncover these financial facts:

Between rising housing costs, fuel and utilities, and unexpected repairs and bills, financial challenges can sometimes come in hot. That’s why it’s so important to keep on top of your finances and recognize when they need more attention. Here are some red flags to watch for:

A credit report is like a financial resume, but you don’t get to create it — third parties do, like the credit bureaus. While you can have a perfect record, there is always the chance a mistake lands on your report. Here are some common credit report errors to watch out for and what you can do to fix them. 

Building a credit score is like running a marathon: You have to play the long game. The honest answer is that building credit doesn’t happen overnight. Credit scores measure long-term financial behavior, so lenders want to see consistent activity over time — not just a couple of good financial moves in a single month.