Getting a Loan These Days...

While 28% of potential homebuyers say that getting a loan is their biggest hurdle, the money is out there. The trick is finding it...

From a Wall Street Journal Marketwatch article, here are some guidelines:

If you're shopping for a mortgage these days, here's what you need to know:

- For the best rates on a conforming loan, people need a 20% down payment and a FICO of 750 or higher, Cecala said. Not surprisingly, very few people meet those requirements, he added. Risk-based pricing by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will cause those who don't meet those basic parameters to pay more for their mortgage. So even if you're able to get a mortgage with a 640 credit score, the loan terms will be more expensive, he said -- and if you have a low credit score you'll probably have to put more money down than someone who has better credit.

- Borrowers who aren't able to put 20% down will likely have to purchase mortgage insurance, and to get that there's another set of requirements that must be met. Insurers are being "very cautious" with regard to what they will insure, Habetz said. Requirements differ at each mortgage-insurance firm, but if a home is in a market where prices are declining, borrowers may be asked to put down 10%.

- Borrowers who are eligible for a loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration may be able to put down as little as 3%. That has become a more popular option for those with weak credit scores.

- Most nonconforming jumbo loans today are being made by portfolio lenders, who keep the loans on their books, Cecala said. Consumers may do well by doing some legwork and comparing rates at local community banks, which have been "coming out of the woodwork" to offer competitive rates, he added.