Yes, a lender for whatever reason that it may make can deny any person a loan to buy a piece of real property. Lenders are private entities and they have business decisions to make in order to evaluate the credit worthiness of a person applying for a loan.In your situation there probably is a belief that since you are on maternity leave that there is a good chance that you may not go back to work for a long period of time. If that happens, there is less income that you would be able to earn to service the debt loan on the home you wish to buy.