Q. Will anyone give us a mortgage if my husband's work is considered "an assignment"? One lender said "no" because it's temporary, though it could be permanent after 120 days. He's been there six weeks. We have great credit and $50,000 in equity and a combined salary of $63,000.

A. We suspect lenders find a lot to like when they look at your plan. You have great credit scores. You're not trying to borrow more than you can afford and you'll have $50,000 in equity. But their main concern is: Will you be able to make the mortgage payments?

Lenders are always hesitant to fund someone who just started a new job, even a permanent new job. The fact that your husband's job is temporary in the minds of the lenders creates an even bigger question about how reliable your income might be.

A year or two ago, you could have gotten a "stated-income" loan that didn't require borrowers to prove they had a steady source of income. But those loans were so badly abused, most lenders don't offer them anymore.

The best thing to do is wait until your husband has been in his new job long enough to become a permanent employee. Then start shopping for a mortgage. Use our extensive listing of mortgage lenders in your area and just start calling.

It's only another three months, and we suspect you'll find someone willing to refinance your home at a very good interest rate.

If you continue to strike out, be patient: 120 days isn't forever. Your husband has put in six weeks already. With luck, his status will become permanent soon. In the meantime, he might want ask his co-workers who may have faced similar problems how they solved them.

Keep in mind, too, that the housing market will improve -- though maybe not until the end of next year. But at some point, you probably will be able to get a stated-income or no-doc loan, which is what you need in order to refinance your home.

Whether you're buying a home or refinancing an existing mortgage, we have a mortgage calculator that can help you make the right decisions.