Not many people can purchase a house in cash which is why financing options are more agreeable to most buyers. In order to get a mortgage, lenders usually look at an applicant's credit score. Your credit history is one of the major qualifications to obtain a loan. But it is not everything - there are other important criteria that banks and lenders consider as well when approving or declining a mortgage loan application. Capacity The capacity of an applicant to pay the loan can be measured through a debt to income ratio. Factors considered here are your house expenditures, outstanding debts and installments and monthly income. If you have a low debt ratio, you have greater chances of getting your mortgage loan approved. Character Character assessment involves your credit card history, stability of residence and employment and billing payment records. A single missed payment can have a huge impact on your chances to get mortgage approvals. Other factors that may ruin your odds are records of repossessions, bankruptcy and liens. Collateral Jot down all the assets that you own and list them on your mortgage loan application form. Banks and lenders need to know this so they can be confident that they won't have problems when you are approved of the loan you applied for.