If you haven't bought or refinanced a home in a while, you may not realize how much banks have tightened up.Until about 18 months ago, you could buy a home with no down payment, a lousy credit rating and no proof of income. It's a whole new world now. There are several types of lenders that offer home loans with the best mortgage rates. From thrift institutions, commercial banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions, obtaining information from these lenders may help you in your search for the best mortgage rates.