Mortgage Credit Availability Up Again

Oct 10, 2017

Today's first-time homebuyer is older and more likely to be single than first-time homebuyers in the 1970s and 1980s, according to a new Zillow analysis

Mortgage credit availability was up in September, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

The trade group’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) rose by 0.7 percent to 181.4 in September. All four component indices were up: The Conforming MCAI and the Conventional MCAI both recorded 1.5 percent upswings, followed by the Jumbo MCAI with a 1.4 percent increase and the Government MCAI inching up by 0.2 percent. September marked the fourth consecutive month that mortgage credit availability was on the rise.

"Mortgage credit availability increased in September due to continuing updates to conforming loan programs as well as agency jumbo programs that have been phased in over the last few months," said MBA Vice President of Research and Economics Lynn Fisher. "For the year to date, the supply of credit has increased only modestly in the non-jumbo space while it has expanded significantly among jumbo programs."

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Phil Hall

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Oct 10, 2017

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