Some of the most popular myths include: 1) home buyers need large down payments (more than is actually the case); 2) the loan process works against people under age 35; 3) owning a home is more expensive than renting; and 4) minorities have no chance of getting a mortgage.

Many qualified first-time buyers were unaware of special programs designed especially to make a home affordable to them. The surveys found that many people view the mortgage process as "difficult, stressful, and incomprehensible."

The home loan industry is always looking for new ways to dispel these myths because lenders want more business, not less. The alternatives to traditional 20% down, thirty-year fixed mortgages is astonishing. Mortgage bankers are experienced in explaining today's financing and debunking the myths.