Mortgage lenders swing from one extreme to another. A short time ago they were giving mortgage money away. You didn’t need a down payment or a good credit score. Today, there are less lenders available and those in the market are going the other way to an extreme.

The best strategy for getting a mortgage today is to maximize your exposure. If your current bank can’t provide a mortgage, ask for references. Call the lenders that hold mortgages on any other properties you own. Ask your insurance agent for references. Find an experienced, well-connected mortgage broker to represent you. Be prepared for extensive document requests. Make a duplicate of everything you give to the lender. Be sure that any commitment you do get is from a well-funded, large institution. Finally, the difficulty of getting a mortgage should not compromise you into a bad mortgage.