Despite the government?s decision to give Wall Street a $700 billion bailout aimed at loosening credit, Westchester realtors say homebuyers are still struggling to obtain loans.

Joe Garcin, a realtor in Yonkers, says he had lost several deals this quarter because his clients failed to obtain money from the bank.

?I have experience where I've had qualified buyers with 700 FICO scores putting down 20 percent and still not getting the loans,? he says.

John Tolomer, president and CEO of the Westchester Bank, a new community-based lender, says despite the recent infusion of cash, banks remain wary of giving out loans because they do not know what will be the state of the economy in the future.

Tolomer adds that banks like his are part of the community, and that is why they are more qualified to assess risk and make loans.

Realtors insist that something must be done to allow buyers who have good credit to obtain loans more easily.

?I think that more pressure has to be applied by the Federal Reserve and bank regulators, [so] that this money [can] be put into the economy,? Garcin says.

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