New Mortgage Rules Are Bullcrap

I can't qualify with a larger down payment.

The problem with HELOCs is that the interest rate is higher and my point is to reduce monthly payments to cushion the impact of buying a minivan (we're about to have our 4th kid).

A HELOC would only ADD another monthly payment without doing anything about the original.

It's frustrating, though, because I know that some independent contractors abused the system last time around, but it's not like I can't (heavily) document my income and employment status. I've never missed a mortgage payment yet, so I don't see why the thinking is that I am at risk to miss a lower payment in the future.

The new qualification rules are flawed.