If you had been preparing to buy a home this summer, you may be relieved to know that you have not missed the boat on low mortgage rates. (Bing: Where are mortgage rates right now?)

It may still be hard to find the home of your dreams with the limited inventory for sale. But at least when it comes to getting a mortgage, you might have more options as lenders loosen some of their standards.

Borrowers who are self-employed, or who need larger mortgages, are often told that loans are hard to get. But a new wave of creative lenders offers options for these customers.

Other buyers have small down payments, so they need Federal Housing Administration loans. They can get discounts for getting counseling about the responsibilities that come with homeownership.