Mortgage bankers and real estate agents are warning that it could become even harder for borrowers to qualify for a home loan early next year as the industry faces new rules.

Regulators are preparing to release the language of two rules that take effect in January to set standards for nonabusive lending and require banks to hold a slice of risky mortgages. In addition, US banking overseers must also complete new capital standards mandated in the international Basel III accords next year.