Applying for a mortgage is no joke. It's important to know what you are getting yourself into and research well to be able to score a good deal. To make things handy when applying for a mortgage, you must consider the following tips: * The most important tip you shouldn't ignore is to be aware of your financial status. Lenders will review your credit standing so be sure your credit report is accurate and up-to-date. Their approval will greatly depend on this. * If in case you are aware that you have overdue bills to pay, take the initiative to pay them off to improve your credit standing. Learn the importance of paying bills on time. * Learn about mortgage. Understand the differences amongst the various interest rates offered in the market. * Read the contract very well and clear out any points that seem vague to you. Ask about the rate if there will be other charges other than what's stated in the contract. Do clarify if the rates will change over the years by which you will be paying your mortgage. * Prior to applying for a mortgage, avoid buying high-ticket items that could add up to the total cost of the property you want to purchase. Your total debt will play a key factor in your application. * Do make sure with your desired lender that you are only interested for a quote. They might think you have a lot of lending rejections should they find you have multiple loan applications. This can greatly harm your chances of getting approved. * Never be in a rush. Shop around for the mortgage deal. It may be tempting to grab the first deal you get but remember there's a lot of competition and you might get a better deal from other lenders. Keep your options open and always find time to compare the quotes you've gathered.