PROSPECTIVE borrowers have been cautioned to get a home loan while they can.

Some may soon find it tougher to borrow, with major banks expected to quietly turn the screws on who qualifies for a home loan.

Steep price rises across a number of key household items, combined with tougher lending rules, are likely to lead banks to take a more cautious view on how much they lend.

This is in contrast to the stand banks have been taking in recent months where they have been relaxing lending standards, mostly by increasing the maximum loan figure against the value of a house, or the loan-to-valuation ratio (LVR).

National Australia Bank is currently the most aggressive, lending up to 95 per cent of the value of a property. ANZ is the most conservative with a maximum LVR of 90 per cent.