Shopping for a home is one of the great joys of life, but dealing with the complicated mortgage process is not. Lots of requirements exist, and this piece is intended to explain the approval process. Read on for some good information that you can use to assist you through the process of getting a mortgage.

If you are underwater on your home and have made failed attempts to refinance, give it another try. The HARP has been rewritten to allow homeowners to refinance no matter what the situation. Discuss the matter with your lender, specifically asking how the new HARP rules impact your situation. If this lender isn’t able to work on a loan with you, you can find a lender who is.

Do not go crazy on credit cards while waiting on your loan to close. Too much spending may send up a red flag to your lender when they run a second credit check a day or two before your scheduled meeting. When your mortgage contract has been signed, then you can begin shopping for furnishings and other necessities.

Get pre-approval so you can figure out what your payments will be. Look around so you know what your price range is. Once you have everything figured out, it will be a lot easier to see what your monthly payments should be.

When your finances change, your mortgage could be rejected. If your job is not secure, you shouldn’t try and get a mortgage. Do not change job while you are in the process of obtaining your mortgage, either.

Prior to applying for a home mortgage, get all your documents ready. Most lenders require a standard set of documents pertaining to income and employment. Some of them include W2s, bank statements, pay stubs and your income tax returns for the past few years. You will sail through the process quickly with your documents in hand.

Prior to speaking to a lender, get your documentation in order. In particular, gather bank statements and your proof of income. When you have these ready in advance and organized, then you are going to speed up the application process.

Even before you contact any lenders, make sure that your credit report is clean. This year, credit standards are stricter than before, so you have to make sure your credit score is as high as possible. That will help you to qualify for better terms on your mortgage.

Applying for a home loan can be stressful. It is a lot less stressful if you know what to expect and how to handle the complexities. Applying the advice in this piece can get you on the right path.