Just 4% of mortgages nationwide were 30 days or more past due in February, according to a report issued today by CoreLogic. That’s the best February in almost two decades, down from 4.8% a year earlier. The statistics show that stricter mortgage lending standards since the housing collapse are paying off in lower delinquencies and defaults.

Consumer advocates argue that lending standards have become too strict and are freezing some potential home-buyers out of the market. But there’s some sign that lenders may be starting to loosen up a little.