Getting a Mortgage Not as Easy as It Looks!

I remember when I was younger, my parents took out a mortgage so they could buy our house.  It seemed like no big deal at the time.  They went into a bank, filled out an application, and a few days later, they were approved.  They had a good rate, too.  I'm guessing that their credit was established, and since they both worked full-time and made good money, they were good candidates for a cheap loan. 

Now that I'm researching home buying, looking at my credit score and other must-haves, I am worried that I won't ever be approved for a mortgage.  Of course, some companies claim to specialize in bad credit mortgages, but it's hard to tell if they are just saying that to get me to apply. 

I need to sit down and talk with my dad.  He can help me understand the different types of mortgages and hopefully point me in the right direction.   I've tried reading  Money Magazine on CNN and of course I've looked over the literature I've gotten from some other lenders, but I'm still confused.

I would like to start this home-ownership journey sooner rather than later, but I am a terrible procrastinator when things don't come easily to me.  Someone give me some motivation here!!