Those who do their homework well in advance of shopping for a mortgage will find they are positioned to get a good mortgage rate, and perhaps the lowest going. The smartest of shoppers start working toward a low mortgage rate long before they apply. They understand what the banks look at and they work to make these items impressive.

Multiple factors are looked at by banks and lending companies when they decide whether they're interested in writing a mortgage loan. All of the factors are important, and they can add up to give you a high rate or the lowest rate going at the time you're looking. To ensure you get the lowest possible, you'll want to examine what the banks will before you apply for loans.

The factors that go into determining the lowest mortgage rate a bank will offer you include:

* Your credit rating. This will be the biggest factor that goes into how a bank will determine the rate you get. Your credit score is a snapshot of your credit history. The raw number that's given to banks is decided upon by such things as how much debt you have, the track record you've established for payments, what types of credit you have and if you've paid well in the past. Late payments, bankruptcy and even slow payments can add up to a lower credit score. Make sure you credit is as clean as possible before applying.

* Income. This is another factor that will come into play as banks determine what your lowest mortgage rate should be. The more you can prove your ability to pay, the less your mortgage will likely be. Don't go after a loan that will stretch your finances to the brink of breaking, and you should (in many cases) be rewarded with a better rate.

* Savings. Banks are generally impressed by those who manage to put a decent down payment into a new home. The more you can put down, the better. If your down payment is high enough, it's possible you will find your mortgage rate will be less. This, however, is not the biggest factor that's looked at for banks.

Remember, banks will want to evaluate all the factors before they decide what the lowest mortgage rate they can offer you is. If you are unhappy with what's being offered right now, look at your credit, your income and other factors and decide if there are things you can fix before applying again.

There are no guarantees you'll get the lowest mortgage rate, but if you make sure your credit and income are in order, you're more likely to. Take some time to evaluate, repair and save to help ensure the lowest rates.