Mortgage credit availability rose in March to its highest point since August 2022, as lenders relax standards across conventional and government-backed loans, signalling increased competition for borrowers despite ongoing affordability pressures.
Mortgage credit availability rose in March to its highest point since August 2022, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, as lenders loosened standards in both conventional and government-backed lending. The association’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index climbed 1.1% to 108.3, signalling that more borrowers may be finding a wider range of loan products on offer.
The latest increase extends a trend that has been building for much of the past year. In May 2025, the MBA said the index rose 2.1% to 105.1, then the strongest reading since 2022 at that time, with gains coming from both conventional and government programmes. The association said the improvement reflected broader access to Federal Housing Administration and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs adjustable-rate mortgages, refinancing options and non-qualified mortgages, or loans that do not meet standard underwriting rules.
By November 2025, the index had advanced for a fifth straight month to 107.5, its highest level since 2022, the MBA said. That rise was linked to a growing supply of adjustable-rate mortgage and cash-out refinance products, with conventional credit availability improving while government lending was unchanged. HousingWire reported in March 2026 that lenders were easing standards only modestly, but enough to push the market to its strongest level in nearly three years.
The broader picture suggests mortgage lenders have been gradually expanding the menu of loans available to homebuyers and borrowers seeking to refinance, even as housing affordability remains strained. For consumers, a higher index does not mean easy credit, but it does indicate that lenders are competing more aggressively than they were in 2022, which could matter for buyers navigating a still-expensive market.
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