Lending Gets Even Tighter for Borrowers

The average FICO score for first-lien loans reached 750 in October, a rise from 741 in August, according to Ellie Mae, an analysis that encompasses about 20 percent of all loan applications in the U.S. Meanwhile, the average FICO score on applications that were denied by lenders was 706. That is up from 700 compared to year ago levels and 697 in September 2011. Last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that tighter lending conditions are contributing to a housing slowdown. He said that some tightening in mortgage lending was necessary following the housing crisis. But, he added, “it seems at this point the pendulum has swung too far the other way, and that overly tight lending standards may now be preventing creditworthy borrowers from buying homes." Source: “Average FICO Score Getting higher for Approved Mortgages,” HousingWire (Nov. 19. 2012)