Until the middle of last year, consumer losses were held in check as house prices climbed, allowing borrowers refinance mortgages or take out home-equity loans and use the cash to pay off credit card bills and auto loans. ... When shopping for home mortgage loans, you should have a basic idea on what to look for in a loan. Keep in mind a few things that would serve as your eligibility criteria for a home mortgage. For example, what types of loans are available from a given institution?