In January, mortgage loans became more widely available—especially conventional mortgages
Feb. 11, 2025
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Mortgage credit availability grew in January.
Mortgage credit became more accessible in January, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Mortgage Credit Availability Index. The index rose by 2.5% to 99, signaling looser lending standards. Conventional mortgage availability saw a 3.8% increase, while government-backed mortgage availability grew by just 1%. Within the conventional category, jumbo loans saw the largest rise at 5.3%, while conforming loans increased by 0.5%.
“Credit availability increased to start 2025, driven by conventional credit supply rising to its highest level since June 2022,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “There were expanded loan offerings for cash-out refinances, along with more jumbo and non-QM loan programs. Although similar to last month, these were limited to borrowers with better credit. All other subindexes saw increases in January, a positive development for the spring homebuying season, if these trends continue.”Read more
