I found this really pretty little starter home in the Phoenix metro area, and now am in the process of trying to qualify for my very first mortgage.  Everyone kept telling me how intimidating it could be to get a mortgage, so I’d been putting off house shopping, but the prices of homes are just too hard to beat right now, so I took the plunge.

Well, they weren’t kidding about getting a loan! Wow!  I can appreciate that lenders are much more careful about lending to home buyers now (as they should be) but there were a few companies that treated me like a suspect when I went in to pre-qualify.  I’m in outside sales, a base-bonus compensation plan, so there is some fluctuation in my compensation.  However, over the past five years, my income has remained steady.  Apparently, that raises red flags for some companies, but I finally found a bank in town, a reputable one that won’t be closing any time soon, who not only worked with me, but made the experience pleasant.  Yes, I had to provide lots of documentation, but with my good credit score and steady work history, I’ll be moving into my new home before the end of the year!