The Mortgage Bankers Association’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index measures how easy or difficult it is for prospective borrowers to get approved for a mortgage. When credit availability is tight, it is harder to get a mortgage. When credit loosens, it means lending standards have eased. In March, the index rose 0.6 percent, indicating that mortgage credit has become more available. Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting, says the economy and job market are making it easier for buyers to qualify. “Credit availability inched higher in March, driven by the ongoing economic and job market recovery,” Kan said. “This has increased the amount of of low credit score and high LTV products.” That means, home buyers with less-than-perfect credit scores and smaller down payments will have a better chance at getting approved for a loan. That’s good news, especially since first-time home buyers are expected to make up a significant share of this year’s demand for homes. (source)