Qualifying for a mortgage is easier than it used to be. Today’s home loans allow credit scores starting at 580-620 and down payments of 3 or even 0 percent in some cases. Just try to aim for a good balance in your personal finances. If your credit is low, for example, making a bigger down payment can help you qualify. Or if you have a high debt-to-income ratio (DTI), you might need extra cash reserves to make up for it. Finally, remember that lenders set their own requirements. So if you don’t qualify with the first lender you talk to, check with a few others.