Skip to content

Top Best 5 Types Of Mortgage Loans for Homebuyers

Types Of Mortgage Loans

If you have never bought a home before, you may be surprised to know that there are several types of mortgage loans available to finance your purchase.

As a future homebuyer, it’s also important to research the types of mortgage loans as you would in the area you want to live in.

This is good news because no matter who you are or what your situation is, Before you start looking for the right home, you need to find the right types of mortgage loans to help you buy.

While these options may seem overwhelming at first, you don’t have to figure them out on your own. Your lender will be happy to sit down with you, explain the differences, and point out the options that work best for you.

By choosing the right types of mortgage loans for your situation, you can reduce your down payment and total interest payments for the entire duration of your loan. In the meantime, let’s take a look at some of the more popular solutions.

The Best Type Of Mortgage Loan For First-Time Home Buyers

Here are five common types of mortgage loans for home buyers:

Types Of Mortgage Loans
Types Of Mortgage Loans
  • Conventional Loan Best suited for creditworthy borrowers.
  • Jumbo Loan is Best suited for borrowers with excellent creditworthiness to purchase an expensive home.
  • Government-Insured Loan Best suited for borrowers with lower creditworthiness and few cash advances.
  • Fixed-Rate Mortgage Best suited for borrowers who want the same payment predictability throughout the loan.
  • Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Best for borrowers who don’t plan on living at home for long and are happy with the risk of a large payment.

Conventional Loan

Conventional loans are loans that are not federally supported and are one of the most common types of mortgage loans. However, conventional loans have stricter rules regarding your credit score and debt-to-income ratio (DTI). They come in two packages: conforming and non-conforming.

Conventional Loan (Types Of Mortgage Loans)

Conforming Loans

As the name implies, Conforming loans, conform to the criteria set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), including credit, debt, and loan size. By 2022, suitable credit lines will be $ 647,200 in most regions and $ 970,800 in more expensive regions.

Non-conforming loans

These loans do not meet FHFA standards. They may be for larger homes, or they may be offered to borrowers who have lower creditworthiness or who have gone through a major financial disaster such as bankruptcy.

Pros of Conventional Loans

  • Can be used as a primary home, secondary home, or real estate investment.
  • General borrowing costs are generally lower than other types of mortgages, even at slightly higher interest rates.
  • If your equity reaches 20%, you can ask your lender to terminate or refinance your private mortgage insurance (PMI) and remove it.
  • Loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac pay only 3%.
  • The seller may contribute to the closing cost.

Cons of Conventional Loans

  • Often requires a minimum FICO score of 620 (same goes for refinancing).
  • Higher down payment than some government loans.
  • The debt-to-income ratio (DTI) must not exceed 43 percent (50 percent in some cases).
  • You may have to pay PMI if the down payment is less than 20 percent of the sale price.
  • Important documents proving income, assets, advances, and employment are required.

Home Buyers Benefit

  • Those with a stable income who pay at least 3% are highly creditworthy and stable

Jumbo Loan

A Jumbo loan is one of the types of mortgage loans that costs more than meeting the credit conditions in your area. You usually need a jumbo loan if you want to buy expensive property. These loans are outside the FHFA.

Jumbo Loan
Jumbo Loan (Types Of Mortgage Loans)

Jumbo loans are more common in higher-cost areas such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Hawaii, where home prices can far exceed the corresponding credit limit.

Interest rates on jumbo loans are usually similar to their respective interest rates but are harder to qualify for than other types of loans. You will need to have a higher credit score and a lower DTI to qualify for a jumbo loan.

Pros of Jumbo Loans

  • May borrow more money to buy a more expensive house.
  • Interest rates are generally competitive with other conventional loans.

Cons of Jumbo Loans

  • At least a 10-20 percent down payment is required.
  • Generally, a FICO score of 700 or higher is required.
  • The DTI rate should not exceed 45 percent.
  • You must show that you have significant assets in cash or in savings accounts.
  • More thorough documentation is usually required for certification.

Home Buyers Benefit

Those who need a loan of more than $ 548,250 for a high-end home have good creditworthiness and a low DTI.

Government-Insured loan

In this type of mortgage loan, The US government is not a mortgage lender, but it is doing its part to help more Americans become homeowners. It also protects creditors from late payments by making it easier for creditors to offer lower interest rates to potential borrowers.

Government-Insured loan (Types Of Mortgage Loans)

Mortgages are supported by three government agencies: the Federal Housing Administration (FHA loans), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA loans), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA loans).

These loans are less risky for lenders because the insurance organization pays the bill if it fails to meet its mortgage. You may be eligible for a government loan if you cannot get a conventional loan.

FHA Loans

With the support of FHA, these types of home loans allow homeowners to take home without a large down payment or original loan.

Borrowers need a FICO score of at least 580 to receive a maximum 96.5 percent FHA funding with a 3.5 percent down payment; however, a score of 500 is acceptable if you place it at least 10 percent lower.

FHA loans require two mortgage premiums, which can increase the total cost of the mortgage. Finally, with an FHA loan, the homeowner can contribute to the closing costs.

USDA Loans

USDA loans help middle- and low-income borrowers buy homes in rural areas. To be eligible, you must purchase a home in a USDA-sponsored area and meet certain income limits.

Some USDA loans do not require an advance for low-income eligible borrowers. However, there are additional fees, including an advance of 1 percent of the loan amount (which can typically be financed from the loan) as well as an annual fee.

VA Loans

VA Loans provides flexible, low-interest mortgages to US military personnel (active and veterans) and their families. VA home loan do not require a down payment, mortgage insurance or minimum credit rating, closing costs are usually limited and can be paid by the seller.

VA loans charge a financing fee, which is a percentage of the loan amount. It can be prepaid at closing or included in the cost of the loan along with other closing costs.

Pros of Government-Insured Loans

  • Help Finance for your home if you don’t qualify for a conventional loan.
  • Credit requirements have been relaxed.
  • No large down payment is required.
  • Available to repeat and first-time buyers.
  • VA loan does not require mortgage insurance or a down payment.

Cons of Government-Insured Loans

  • Mandatory mortgage premiums for non-cancellable FHA loans unless refinanced with an existing mortgage.
  • Loan limits on FHA loans are lower than conventional mortgages in most locations, limiting the potential inventory you can choose from.
  • The borrower must reside on the property (though they can finance a multi-unit building and rent another unit).
  • Overall borrowing costs could be higher.
  • Providing more documentation depending on the loan type for verification purposes.

Home Buyers Benefit

Those who are not eligible for conventional loans or have low cash savings.

Fixed-Rate Mortgage

Fixed-rate mortgages These types of mortgage loans carry the same interest and principal/interest payments for the entire duration of the loan. The amount you pay each month can fluctuate due to property tax and premium fluctuations, but fixed-rate mortgages usually offer highly predictable monthly installments.

Fixed-Rate Mortgage
Fixed-Rate Mortgage (Types Of Mortgage Loans)

If you currently live in an “eternal home,” a fixed-rate mortgage may be more appropriate. Fixed rates give you a better idea of ​​how much you will pay each month to pay your mortgage. This is useful for long-term budgets and planning.

If interest rates in your area are high, you may want to avoid fixed-rate mortgages. Once locked in, interest rates will be maintained for the duration of your mortgage unless you refinance. High rates and lock-ins can pay you thousands of dollars in interest. Talk to your local realtor or mortgage expert to learn more about market interest rate trends.

Pros of Fixed-Rate Mortgages

  • The monthly principal and interest payments remain unchanged over the life of the loan.
  • You can plan other expenses more accurately from month to month.

Cons of Fixed-Rate Mortgages

  • You will usually have to pay more interest on a longer-term loan.
  • Interest rates are generally higher than those on adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs).

Home Buyers Benefit

Buyers who buy or refinance their homes permanently.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)

In contrast to the stability of fixed-rate loans, adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) have fluctuating interest rates, which may increase or decrease depending on market conditions. Many ARM products have a fixed interest rate for several years before the loan changes to a floating interest rate for the remainder of the term.

Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)
Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)(Types Of Mortgage Loans)

For example, you may see a 7-year / 6-month ARM, which means that the interest rate will remain unchanged for the first seven years and will change every six months after the initial period. If you are considering an ARM, it is important to read the fine print to find out how much the exchange rate can rise and how much you can pay after the introductory period.

Pros of Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)

  • Lower fixed interest rates in the first few years of home ownership (though this is not guaranteed, recently, 30-year fixed rates have actually kept pace with 5/1 ARM).
  • You can save significant amounts on interest payments.

Cons of Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)

  • You may not be able to pay your monthly mortgage payments and default on your loan.
  • Home values ​​may decline in a few years, making it more difficult to refinance or sell before the loan is reset.

Home Buyers Benefit

Those who buy a start-up apartment do not expect to live there for the full term of the loan.

Requirements For Getting Different Types Of Mortgage Loans For First-Time Buyers

To find the best mortgage loans for your future home, find out the types of loans you can take out. The following factors can affect the types of mortgage loans you are eligible for:

Estimated Down Payment

The size of the down payment may affect the interest rate offered by mortgage loans lenders.

Monthly Mortgage Payment

Mortgage loans lenders examine your income and assets to determine the total amount of credit you can afford. When calculating your monthly mortgage repayment budget, consider the principal amount, interest and taxes, mortgage insurance, utilities, and homeowner fees.

Credit Score

Your credit rating plays a big role in determining the interest rate on a loan.

Conclusion

Regardless of which types of mortgage loans you choose, check your borrowing report beforehand to find out where you are. By law, you are eligible for a free credit report each year from all three major reporting agencies at freecreditscore.com

From here, you can discover and correct errors, work on debt repayments, and improve your history of late payments. before turning to a mortgage loans lender. To further protect your credit report from errors and other suspicious clues, consider using one of the best credit monitoring services available today.

It can be beneficial to seek financing before you start looking seriously at homes and making offers. You’ll be able to act faster, and sellers will take it more seriously if you have a pre-approval letter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who should get a conventional loan?

If you have good creditworthiness and can afford to pay a significant down payment, conventional types of mortgage loans are probably the best choice. A 30-year fixed-rate conventional mortgage loans is the most popular choice among home buyers.

Who should get a jumbo loan?

If you want to finance more than the latest credit limit, a jumbo loan is probably the best way to go.

Who should get a government-insured loan?

If you’re not eligible for a conventional loan because of a lower credit score or limited down payment savings, FHA- and USDA-backed loans are a great option. For members of the military service, veterans, and eligible spouses, VA-secured loans are often better than conventional loans.

Who should get a fixed-rate mortgage?

If you plan to stay in your home for at least five to seven years and want to avoid the possibility of changing your monthly installments, a fixed-rate mortgage is right for you.

Who should get an Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)?

If you don’t plan to stay at home for more than a few years, ARM can help you save on interest costs. However, it is important to take the risk of paying more if you are at home.