Before you even think about applying for a mortgage, the first thing you need to do is get to know your credit score, and hopefully, bump it up.
According to the Home Loan Learning Center, many lenders require a minimum score of 680 (or 620 for an FHA loan) and can deny anyone who falls below that. Though you probably can find a loan even with a 600 or 610 credit score, your interest rates will be likely be higher than you’d like.