Getting a loan is not extremely easy.  The bank is going to look at your qualifications, and then make a decision about what kind of loan to offer you.  It is possible that you will not qualify at all, which can be stressful and disappointing.  What do you need to qualify for a loan?  There are certain things that all banks are going to take a look at.

How much can you afford to pay back without overextending yourself?  Banks want to loan money to people who they believe are going to be able to pay it back to them.  They are not going to look favorably on a person who is unemployed.  Instead, they will want to see that you have a job, and that you have been at that same job for two or more years.  How much money you make will be taken into consideration as well.  The better your income, the better chance you have at qualifying for a loan.

What kind of collateral do you have?  The bank feels that it is taking a risk by giving a person a loan.  If you become unable to make your loan payments, the bank is going to want to know what it can take away from you in order to make back it’s money.  Often, this can be in the form of a lien that is placed on the home you are trying to purchase, but this not the only way.

Do you have good credit?  A bank is going to do a credit check of a person before they offer a loan.  This means they will view your credit report.  Good credit is more than just a number or a score.  Your payment history is going to tell the bank if you are a person who pays their bills on time, or, if you tend to make late payments.  Have you maxed out your available credit?  If you have, the bank may question if you are going to be able to pay back a loan to them.  The bank want to know if you have recently tried to get more credit, and why.

Banks will also want to be certain you are stable.  Married people, especially those with children, are considered a good risk by most banks.  Having spent several years at the same job is a good thing.   This helps you qualify for a loan.