Home Equity Loans Arizona

What do I need to take care of before I try to get prequalified? What will they ask me? Should I try to pay off the student loan first? Credit cards are paid off, no car loan, nothing else. This is my first home. Been in this apt. for 7 years. Will they ask for references, if so how many? I’m self-employed. Thanks so much! Gap wouldn’t even give me a Gap card because of the student loans which seems ridiculous given my credit rating. Rating will probably be at 720 or 725 by the time I apply for the loan in 3 or so months (hopefully). And how do I choose the lender?
And…my checking account shows an average monthly income of about $3500 -$4000 a month. The homes I’m after are in Iowa and only about $85,000.
Regarding deliquency on the loan. I was sick many years ago (8 now) and it was deliquent then, but my Dad has taken it over and has been paying it off faithfully for several years now and I’ve been doing the same work for 7 years now.
Re: one of the responses…They don’t request tax returns for a stated income loan do they?