What You Should Know About Getting a Mortgage Today

You know that voice in your head saying “You probably won’t qualify for a mortgage right now”? It might be time to give it the boot.

Because here's the deal: getting approved for a mortgage is getting easier, especially if you’ve got your financial ducks in a row. The lending landscape is loosening just enough to let more would-be buyers in, without unleashing the chaos of 2008-style risky loans.

Let’s break down what’s shifting, and why now might be the window you’ve been waiting for.

Lenders Are Loosening Their Grip

Banks are finally warming up again. They’re making space for buyers who have good-but-not-perfect credit, or who might not be rolling in cash for a huge down payment. That means if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines thinking the bar was too high, this is your tap on the shoulder.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage credit availability (a fancy way of measuring how easy it is to get a loan) just hit its highest point since 2022. And that’s a big deal. This index, known as the MCAI, only moves when lenders start saying yes more often.

As NAMU puts it:

“Mortgage credit availability surged in May, reaching its highest level since August 2022. The uptick signals that lenders are increasingly willing to loosen underwriting standards, providing borrowers with greater access to financing options . . .”

Translation: You might get approved today for a mortgage that would’ve been out of reach just a few months back.

But Wait, Is This 2008 All Over Again?

Not even close. Yes, lending standards are softening a bit, but not in a reckless way. To be clear: banks aren’t handing out no-income, no-verification loans like Halloween candy. There’s still structure, oversight, and sanity.

Here’s the kicker: even with this recent uptick, lending is still dramatically stricter than it was before the crash. MCAI data going back to 2004 proves that we’re nowhere near the lending of the early 2000s.

Why This Moment Might Be Your Moment

According to Brett Hively of Ameris Bancorp:

“This uptick is opening the door for many borrowers to move forward with a home purchase or a refinance program.”

That means if you’ve been telling yourself, “I’ll never get approved,” it’s time to rethink that. Even if you don’t get a green light today, you could be closer than you think.

Ready to Test the Waters?

Waiting for “perfect” rarely pays off in real estate. And this moment? It’s about as close as we’ve gotten to a sweet spot in a while. Lending is more flexible, mortgage rates are still hovering in a manageable range, and you could very well qualify.

If you’ve got questions or want to run the numbers with a lender, let’s connect. We partner with a few local lenders in the Las Vegas Valley that offer different strategies to get you approved for a loan. You don’t have to go it alone, we’ll help you find out what’s actually possible for you today.

Graham Team Real Estate • (702) 930-9551 • Team@grahamteamnv.com

3007 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy, Ste. 210, Henderson, NV 89052