According to a new survey from Fannie Mae, credit availability is improving. For the first time in over three years, the majority of consumers believe it's easier to get a mortgage.
Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae's chief economist said, "The gradual upward trend in this indicator during the last few months bodes well for the housing recovery and may be contributing to this month's increase in consumers' intention to buy rather than rent their next home."
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) says consumers are correct - credit availability has increased, particularly in the jumbo and refinance loan markets.
Explained Mike Fratatoni, chief economist for the MBA, "The market continues to adapt to the new QM [Qualified Mortgage] regulation by eliminating products that do not fit inside of the QM box. This tightening is being offset, both in the market for higher balance loans, where lenders continue to loosen terms for jumbo loans, and in the refi market, where more lenders are offering streamline refinance programs."
But there could be other reasons that credit is more available. Credit reporting agency Transunion announced that the mortgage delinquency rate for the fourth quarter of 2013 was 3.85 percent, down from 5.08 percent.
Delinquencies have been steadily declining over the past two years, while improved home sales and rising prices have allowed many homeowners on the edge of delinquency to sell their homes and get into something more affordable.
Credit has been extraordinarily tight since 2008, as lenders struggled with federal claims of mortgage fraud. For years, lenders raised credit standards beyond what was required to qualify for federally guaranteed loans and loans destined for purchase by the securities industry.
As the government leveled fines and made repayment settlements with many of the big banks, lenders are more willing to make mortgage loans. With the most toxic loans before 2008 foreclosed and disposed, lenders have more confidence in loans generated since them.
In fact, Transunion also reported that more loans were generated to borrowers with less-than-perfect credit in Q4 2013.
"We are on the downward slope of the mortgage delinquency curve, so we expect to continue seeing delinquency rates that have not been seen for several years," said Steve Chaouki, head of financial services for TransUnion.
With job gains growing, relatively low interest rates available and a tight supply of homes insuring equity gains, mortgage delinquencies should continue declining, and buyers should feel more confident in their decision to buy a home in 201
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