Is it harder to get a mortgage in the current market? Most definitely!! The days of easy credit have come to a screeching halt! Much more difficult...but certainly not impossible. Most people who "should" have gotten a loan in recent years still will be able to qualify now. Here are the major changes in loan qualification. Credit score will not have to be at least in the low to mid 600's where you could have been in the low to mid 500's before. Some down payment will have to be made from your "own" money. (Down payment assistance is still an option in some cases allowing for no money down on the part of the buyer.) Gifts from parents or others are being discouraged, but still allowed in certain circumstances. VA still requires no down payment and there are still a few specialized programs for little or no money down. The feds are trying to stop most all "down payment assistance" programs but have not succeeded as yet. Total debt can no longer be more than mid to upper 30 percent of your gross income, where in days past they allowed up to 45% of gross income to go for debt. I always tell my client they will be much happier and more secure if they hold their house payment to a weeks bring home pay. This will allow them to furnish that new home, take vacations, eat out at least once a week, etc. I try to be sure my clients do not end up house rich and cash poor. That's no fun at all. As your income rises, then you can afford a larger, nicer home. Don't push it to begin with and you will be happier and much more secure.