Here are some tips for getting a mortgage and understanding the lending process.

Clean Credit
A clean credit history over the past year shows the lender your ability to pay your bills on time which in turn shows them you have a good chance of paying the mortgage on time. Paying down credit card balances and not taking on new debt can help you.

Credit Scores
Credit scores aren’t the only thing a lender looks at, but they are an important part of the process. FHA loans approve applicants with credit scores as low as 580 while most conventional loans prefer a 620 or better. The lender takes into consideration a variety of factors before approving a home loan.