Below is a link to a great article in Kiplinger's detailing all the various caveats for obtaining credit these days.
It touches on how self employment, credit scores, debt to income, etc. effects your ability to get a loan.
For those that can qualify, now could be the best time to refinance debt as rates are at their lowest point in history.
To read the article "What it takes to get a loan" in it's entirety CLICK HERE