Many Americans believe the dream of homeownership is out of reach, but a Bankrate survey revealed that at least some of those frustrations may be due to misconceptions that make homeownership seem harder than it really is. The public opinion poll, fielded earlier this year, found that 41% of U.S. adults think now is a “bad time” to buy a home, and 26% say they’ll “never” be able to afford their dream home. It also showed that many have over-inflated perceived barriers to getting a home loan, such as less-than-stellar credit. Here are the most common myths revealed in the survey, and how they stack up to reality. Myth: I need excellent credit to land a mortgage The survey found 39% of Americans believe a home buyer needs “excellent” credit to get a mortgage. While it’s true that excellent credit will help you qualify for the best deal, it’s quite possible to land a mortgage with a credit score of less than 700. What is "excellent" vs. "good" credit?…