See If You Qualify for a Home Loan

Qualifying for a mortgage doesn’t have to be confusing or stressful. Whether you’re buying a newly built home, purchasing an existing property, or refinancing, Heartland Mortgage will help you understand where you stand today and what steps can get you to approval. You don’t need perfect credit or a large down payment to get started, just a goal and a conversation.

When you check your qualification with us, our team reviews your big picture, not just a single number. We look at income, credit history, monthly debts, down payment, and the type of home you’re interested in. From there, we’ll give you clear next steps so you know exactly what to expect moving forward.

How Lenders Look at Qualification

Every situation is unique, but lenders generally review four key areas:

Income and Employment

We review your income sources and work history to understand stability and ability to repay. This may include W-2 income, self-employment income, commissions, bonuses, or retirement income.

Credit Profile

Your credit report helps us understand your history of payments and how you’ve used credit in the past. Great credit is helpful, but it’s not required, many buyers qualify with past credit challenges.

Debt-to-Income Ratio

Lenders compare your monthly debts to your income to determine what payment fits comfortably. We’ll help you understand where you fall and how to improve this if needed.

Down Payment and Assets

Different loan programs require different down payments. Many buyers use gift funds or assistance programs, and some programs allow little to no money down.

Who Typically Qualifies?

You may be closer than you think. We regularly help:

• first-time homebuyers
• buyers building a new construction home
• buyers purchasing an existing home
• move-up buyers selling and buying at the same time
• self-employed borrowers or 1099 earners
• veterans and active-duty military
• buyers using gift funds or down payment assistance

If you see yourself on this list, there is likely a program designed for you.

Quick Self-Check: do I look like a qualified buyer?

Answering “yes” to most of these means you may already qualify:

• I have reliable income or self-employed earnings
• I’ve had mostly on-time payments in the last year
• I have some money saved or access to gift funds
• I’m planning to buy in the next 3–12 months
• I’m willing to review my credit and finances with a loan advisor

Even if you answered “no” to some of these, we can still help build a path to approval.

Loan programs that may fit your goals

Without going deep into details, here are common options buyers ask about:

• Conventional loans for most home purchases
• FHA loans with lower down payment options
• VA loans for eligible veterans and military buyers
• USDA loans for qualifying rural areas
• Jumbo loans for higher-priced homes
• Refinance programs to lower payment or access equity
• Bank-statement-only loans for self-employed borrowers
• ITIN loans for qualifying borrowers without Social Security numbers
• DSCR loans for real estate investors based on property cash flow

Your loan officer will match your situation to the right program.

What If I Don’t Qualify Right Now?

That doesn’t mean “no”, it just means “not yet.”

If you’re not ready today, we can:

• create a simple credit-improvement plan
• show you how much you need to save
• set a realistic home price target
• build a purchase timeline around your goals
• get you pre-qualified when the time is right

Many of our customers who thought they weren’t ready became homeowners within months.

Next Steps: choose how you’d like to begin

You can take whichever step feels comfortable:

• schedule a Quick Consult to see where you stand
• start a full application if you’re ready to move forward
• schedule a Quick Consult with a loan advisor to ask questions
• or simply contact us and we’ll guide you from there

We’re here to make the process clear, simple, and pressure-free.