Loan Programs

Conventional loans are the conforming and nonconforming types. A conforming loan falls within the rules and guidelines that have been set up by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Nonconforming loans fall outside of the rules and regulations established by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) established a home loan program in 1949 designed to help property owners secure financing on rural property. The program is run by the USDA Rural and Community Development

An FHA insured loan is a Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance backed mortgage loan which is provided by a FHA-approved lender. FHA insured loans are a type of federal assistance and have historically allowed lower income Americans to borrow money for the purchase of a home that they would not otherwise be able to afford. To obtain mortgage insurance from the Federal Housing Administration, a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) equal to 1.75 percent of the loan amount at closing is required, and is normally financed by the lender and paid to FHA on the borrower's behalf.

A VA mortgage is a mortgage guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. They help subsidize home ownership for those who have served in the military. A VA mortgage allows the purchase of a home with any deposit required, meaning no down payment. Other government programs also allow this, but the VA offers this program only to veterans and their immediate families.