As Prices Rise, Mortgage Lenders Are Making It Easier to Buy A House #investment #realestate #homeownership

Source:  Los Angeles Times

Some prices are rising across the country and mortgage rates, though still historically low, are up since the presidential election.

Simply put, buying a home isn't easy, especially in high-cost metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles County, where the median price of a home hit $569,000 in June.

But changes in the mortgage industry are afoot, with the goal of loosening some of the strict standards established after the subprime crisis - rules some blame for impeding sales.

"The reality has sunk in that there are buyers out there who will be able to buy homes and make the mortgage payments," said William E. Brown, the president of the National Assn. of Realtors.  The industry is "trying to give them more options to buy a house."

Government-controlled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are paving the way by rolling out new programs to encourage home ownership.

The companies, with their congressional mandate to promote home ownership, don't originate loans, but purchase mortgages from lenders to keep the market moving.  And any changes they make in the underwriting standards for the loans they buy can have a big effect.

Check out the full story here:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-looser-lending-20170804-htmlstory.html

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