Well, well..well...perhaps our collective housing and economic fears are beginning to ease a bit. We just learned today that PMI (and possibly other MI companies) will once again offer MI for 2nd homes at 10% down as long as the buyer has a minimum credit score of 720. Still sounds a bit harsh but for the last 6 months it was 20% down or nothing.

They also withdrew several states from their "Declining Markets" list. (Only 5 states remain, AZ, CA, FL, MI, NV).

This may be just a small move in the right direction but I feel good about it. I for one don't ever want to see the crazy free-for-all lending practices that got us into this mess return, but I would like to see a little more common sense. 10% down with a 720 credit score is almost a sure thing.

Melissa "The Mortgage Maven" Breeland