8 Types Of Mortgages For All Home Buyers

As a prospective home buyer, it’s just as important to research types of mortgages as the neighborhoods you want to live in. 

Applying for a home loan can be complicated, and deciding which type of mortgage best suits your needs early on will help direct you to the type of home you can afford.

Depending on the types of mortgages you qualify for, you can choose from a number of home loans when you buy property. The sheer number of mortgage options makes it that much more important to understand the key advantages and disadvantages of each. 

Depending on the type of mortgage you choose, you’ll have different requirements that influence your rate, the length of the loan and your lender. Choosing the right mortgage for your situation can lower your down payment and decrease the overall interest payment over the life of your loan.

Learn more about how to find the right mortgage for you with this guide.

Go straight to the mortgage you’re most interested in:

What Is a Mortgage?

A mortgage is a loan that’s used to purchase a home or property.

In most mortgage loans, the property is used as collateral. If you fail to make your mortgage payments on time, you may lose the house, and it could get sold to repay the loan. That’s why it’s important that you find a type of mortgage that gives you rates and terms that are financially manageable for you.

The type of mortgage loan you seek may depend on:

• How much money you’ve saved for a down payment
• How much you earn
• How long you plan to live in the home you’re buying
• Whether or not you’re a first-time homebuyer
• Whether or not you qualify for a government-backed loan

Generally, there are 8 main types of mortgage loans.

Types of Mortgages:

1. Conventional Mortgages
2. Fixed-Rate Mortgages
3. Adjustable Rate Mortgages
4. FHA Loans
5. USDA Loans
6. VA Loans
7. Jumbo Loans
8. Balloon Mortgages

Requirements To Get A Mortgage

In order to find the best mortgage for your prospective home, understand the types of loans you’re able to pursue. The factors below can influence the types of mortgages you’ll qualify for:

• Estimated down payment: The size of your down payment can impact the mortgage rate lenders will give.
• Monthly mortgage payment: Mortgage lenders will look at your income and assets to determine the total loan amount you can afford to pay back. When calculating your budget for your monthly mortgage payment, consider the principal amount, interest and taxes, mortgage insurance, utilities and any homeowner’s fees.
• Credit score: Your credit score will play a large role in determining the interest rate on your loan.

Types Of Home Loans

All types of mortgages are considered either conforming or nonconforming loans. Conforming versus nonconforming loans are determined by whether or not your lender keeps the loan and collects payments and interest on it or sells it to one of two real estate investment companies – Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Conforming Loans

When you hear a lender talk about “conforming loan,” they’re using a mortgage term to refer to a conventional mortgage only. A conforming loan is one that can be purchased by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. For one of these institutions to purchase the mortgage from your lender, the loan must meet basic qualifications set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

The basic criteria set by the FHFA include loans below a maximum dollar limit, loans that don’t already have backing from a federal government body and loans that meet lender-specific criteria.

• Below the maximum dollar limit: The maximum dollar limit in most parts of the contiguous United States is $548,250 in 2021. In Alaska, Hawaii and certain high-cost counties, the limit is $822,375. Higher limits also apply if you buy a multiunit home. Your lender can’t sell your loan to Fannie or Freddie and you can’t get a conforming mortgage if your loan is more than the maximum amount. Instead, you’ll need to take a jumbo loan to fund a home purchase above these limitations.
• Not a federally backed loan: The loan cannot already have backing from a federal government body. Some government bodies (including the United States Department of Agriculture and the Federal Housing Administration) offer insurance on home loans. If you have a government-backed loan, Fannie and Freddie may not buy your mortgage.
• Meets lender-specific criteria: Your loan must meet the lender’s specific criteria to qualify for a conforming mortgage. For example, you must have a credit score of at least 620 to qualify for a conforming loan. You may also need to take property guidelines and income restrictions into account when you apply for a conforming loan. A Home Loan Expert can help determine if you qualify based on your unique financial situation.

Conforming loans have well-defined guidelines and there’s less variation in who qualifies for a loan. Because the lender has the option to sell the loan to Fannie or Freddie, conforming loans are also less risky than jumbo loans. This means that you may be able to get a lower interest rate when you choose a conforming loan.

Nonconforming Loans

If your loan doesn’t meet conforming standards, it’s considered a nonconforming loan. Nonconforming loans have less strict guidelines than conforming loans. These loans can allow you to borrow with a lower credit score, take out a larger loan or get a loan with no money down. You may even be able to get a nonconforming loan if you have a negative item on your credit report, like a bankruptcy. Most nonconforming loans will be government-backed loans or jumbo loans.

Understanding Different Types Of Mortgages

Depending on the type of mortgage applicant you are, you’ll find various advantages and disadvantages of home loans. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, downsizing or refinancing, consider the type of applicant you are before selecting a mortgage.

Conventional Mortgages

A conventional loan is a conforming loan funded by private financial lenders. Conventional mortgages are the most common type of mortgage. This is because they don’t have strict regulations on income, home type and home location qualifications like some other types of loans. That said, conventional loans do have stricter regulations on your credit score and your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.

You can buy a home with as little as 3% down on a conventional mortgage. You’ll also need a minimum credit score of at least 620 to qualify for a conventional loan. You can skip buying private mortgage insurance (PMI) if you have a down payment of at least 20%. However, a down payment of less than 20% means you’ll need to pay for PMI. Mortgage insurance rates are usually lower for conventional loans than other types of loans (like FHA loans).

Conventional loans are a good choice for most consumers who don’t qualify for a government-backed loan or want to take advantage of lower interest rates with a larger down payment. If you can’t provide at least 3% down and you’re eligible, you could consider a USDA loan or a VA loan.

Pros Of Conventional Mortgages:

• The overall borrowing cost after fees and interest tends to be lower than an unconventional loan.
• Your down payment can be as little as 3% for qualifying loans.

Cons Of Conventional Mortgages:

• You have to pay PMI if the down payment is less than 20%.
• Stricter qualifications that require a minimum credit score of 620 and low DTI.

Home Buyers Who Might Benefit:

• Buyers with a stable income, at least 3% down, strong credit and employment.

Fixed-Rate Mortgages

A fixed-rate mortgage has the exact same interest rate throughout the duration of the loan. The amount you pay per month may fluctuate due to changes in local tax and insurance rates, but for the most part, fixed-rate mortgages offer you a very predictable monthly payment.

A fixed-rate mortgage might be a better choice for you if you’re currently living in your “forever home.” A fixed interest rate gives you a better idea of how much you’ll pay each month for your mortgage payment, which can help you budget and plan for the long term.

You may want to avoid fixed-rate mortgages if interest rates in your area are high. Once you lock in, you’re stuck with your interest rate for the duration of your mortgage unless you refinance. If rates are high and you lock in, you could overpay thousands of dollars in interest. Speak to a local real estate agent or Home Loan Expert to learn more about how market interest rates trend in your area.

Pros Of Fixed-Rate Mortgages:

• Monthly payments don’t change over the life of your loan, making it easier to plan a budget.

Cons Of Fixed-Rate Mortgages:

• You may end up paying more in interest over time if the rates are high in your area.

Home Buyers Who Might Benefit:

• Buyers that are purchasing or refinancing their forever home.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

The opposite of a fixed-rate mortgage is an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). ARMs are 30-year loans with interest rates that change depending on how market rates move.

You first agree to an introductory period of fixed interest when you sign onto an ARM. Your introductory period is typically 5, 7 or 10 years. During this introductory period, you pay a fixed interest rate that’s usually lower than market rates. After your introductory period ends, your interest rate changes depending on market interest rates. Your lender will look at a predetermined index to determine how rates are changing. Your rate will go up if the index’s market rates go up. If they go down, your rate goes down.

ARMs include rate caps that dictate how much your interest rate can change in a given period and over the lifetime of your loan. Rate caps protect you from rapidly rising interest rates. For example, interest rates might keep rising year after year, but when your loan hits its rate cap, your rate won’t continue to climb. These rate caps also go in the opposite direction and limit the amount that your interest rate can go down as well.

ARMs can be a good choice if you plan to buy a starter home before moving to your forever home. ARMs give you access to below-market rates for an initial introductory period. You can easily take advantage and save money if you don’t plan to live in your home throughout the loan’s full term.

These can also be especially beneficial if you plan on paying extra toward your loan early on. ARMs start with lower interest rates compared to fixed-rate loans, which can give you some extra cash to put toward your principal. Paying extra on your loan early can save you thousands of dollars later on.

Pros Of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages:

• Gives below-market rates for the initial introductory period.

Cons Of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages:

• If the rate increases, it can dramatically increase your monthly payments.

Home Buyers Who Might Benefit:

• Home buyers who are purchasing a starter home and don’t expect to live there for the loan’s full term.

Government-Backed Loans

Government-backed loans are insured by government bodies. When lenders talk about government-backed loans, they’re referring to three types of loans: FHA, VA and USDA loans. These loans are less risky for lenders because the insuring body foots the bill if you default. You may have more success getting a government-backed loan if you can’t get a conventional loan.

Each government-backed loan has specific criteria you need to meet in order to qualify along with unique benefits, but you may be able to save on interest or down payment requirements if you qualify.

Pros Of Government-Backed Loans:

• Possible to save on interest and down payments.
• Less strict qualification requirements than conventional loans.

Cons Of Government-Backed Loans:

• You must meet specific criteria to qualify.
• Many types of government-backed loans have insurance premiums that are required which can result in higher borrowing costs.

Home Buyers Who Might Benefit:

• Buyers who don’t qualify for conventional loans or have low cash savings.

FHA Loans

FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. An FHA loan can allow you to buy a home with a credit score as low as 580 and a down payment of 3.5%. With an FHA loan you may be able to buy a home with a credit score as low as 500 if you have at least 10% down. Rocket Mortgage® requires a minimum credit score of 580.

USDA Loans

USDA loans are insured by the United States Department of Agriculture. USDA loans have lower mortgage insurance requirements than FHA loans and can allow you to buy a home with no money down. You must meet income requirements and buy a home in a suburban or rural area in order to qualify for a USDA loan. Rocket Mortgage® does not currently offer USDA loans.

VA Loans

VA loans are insured by the Department of Veterans Affairs. A VA loan can allow you to buy a home with $0 down and lower interest rates than most other types of loans. You must meet service requirements in the Armed Forces or National Guard to qualify for a VA loan.

Jumbo Loans

A jumbo loan is a loan that’s worth more than conforming loan standards in your area. You usually need a jumbo loan if you want to buy a high-value property. For example, you can get up to $2.5 million in a jumbo loan if you choose Rocket Mortgage®. The conforming loan limit in most parts of the country is $548,250.

Jumbo loan interest rates are usually similar to conforming interest rates, but they’re more difficult to qualify for than other types of loans. You’ll need to have a higher credit score and a lower DTI to qualify for a jumbo loan.

Pros Of Jumbo Loans:

• Interest rates are similar to conforming loan interest rates.
• You can borrow more for a more expensive home.

Cons Of Jumbo Loans:

• It’s difficult to qualify for, typically requiring a credit score of 700 or higher, significant assets and a low DTI ratio.
• You’ll need a large down payment, typically between 10 and 20%.

Home Buyers Who Might Benefit:

• Buyers who need a loan larger than $548,250 for a high-end home and have a good credit score and low DTI.

Balloon Mortgages

Less common mortgages are ones like balloon mortgages. On these types of home loans, you pay interest for a set period of time before a lump sum is owed. Oftentimes, you’ll make payments in a structure like a 30-year term for a short time, then at the end of the specified period, you’ll make a larger payment of the remaining balance. Another type of balloon loan is an interest-only mortgage where you only pay the interest each month until the end of the period when the principal is owed. Rocket Mortgage® does not offer these types of loans.

Pros Of Balloon Mortgages:

• You’ll have lower monthly payments of just interest or that’s partly amortized.

Cons Of Balloon Mortgages:

• Requires a large payment at the end of the term which is a higher risk for lenders and buyers.

Home Buyers Who Might Benefit:

• You’re a buyer in an area where home values are likely to rise and you only plan to live in the home for a short time, before the balloon payment is due.

Other Types of Mortgage Loans 

Beyond the 8 types of mortgages, there are 4 additional mortgage types that are fairly niche but sometimes very useful.

• Construction Loans
• Interest-Only Mortgages
• Piggyback Loans
• Reverse Mortgages

Better to know them and not need them than to need them and not know them.

Construction Loans 

You might seek a construction loan if you want to build your own home or do a significant amount of add-on construction to a house that you’re buying. 

Many people who take out a construction loan will actually take out two loans: a construction loan to fund the building of the home and then a mortgage loan to pay off the construction loan. 

You can also wrap the two loans together in what’s known as a construction-to-permanent loan.

Pros Of Construction Loans:

• A construction loan may give you the opportunity to build your true “dream home.”

Cons Of Construction Loans:

• It’s often harder to qualify for a construction loan than a mortgage. You must prove that you have the income to pay for the home that you’re building, and you may have to make a down payment as high as 20%.

Home Buyers Who Might Benefit:

• You’re a buyer who can afford to build a new home from scratch. You’re a buyer who wants to do significant renovations to a property you’re buying. You’re a homeowner who wants to add additional buildings to your property.

Interest-Only Mortgage 

An interest-only mortgage allows you to pay nothing but interest on the loan for a short period of time–typically 5 to 7 years. After that period expires, you’ll have to start making larger monthly payments.

Pros Of Interest-Only Mortgages:

• You don’t have to make full mortgage payments for the first several years of the loan. That may be ideal if you need a grace period to recuperate your finances after buying a home. It’s also ideal for those who are confident they can sell the home for a profit before the larger payments are due.

Cons Of Interest-Only Mortgages:

• You could face foreclosure if you can’t afford to pay the larger monthly payments when they’re due.

Home Buyers Who Might Benefit:

• You’re buying a home, and you’re confident you can afford the larger monthly payments or that you can sell the home before they’re due.

Piggyback Loan

A piggyback loan is when you take out two loans: a main mortgage for 80% of the home price and a piggyback mortgage for 10% of the home price. Then you make a down payment on the final 10%. 

Piggyback loans are also known as “80/10/10” loans. They’re very rare today, but it’s possible they’ll make a comeback in the future.

Pros Of Piggyback Loans:

• Many mortgage lenders require you to make a down payment of at least 20% to avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). Piggyback loans were designed to help you to avoid PMI by structuring your “main mortgage” as 80%. So, if you take out a piggyback loan, then you usually don’t have to pay PMI, and you might enjoy lower closing costs.

Cons Of Piggyback Loans:

• Piggyback loans can fool you into thinking you’re getting lower closing costs. Remember that when you take out a piggyback loan, you’re actually getting two loans with two different sets of closing costs. You’ll have to crunch the numbers to make sure you’re really saving money with this mortgage type.

Home Buyers Who Might Benefit:

• You’re a home buyer who is able to make a 10% down payment. You compare a piggyback loan to a single loan with mortgage insurance, and you find that the piggyback loan will give you much lower closing costs.

Reverse Mortgage

On a standard mortgage, you gain equity in the home with every payment you make. A reverse mortgage works in the opposite way: you take money from your home while you lose equity in the property. 

Reverse mortgages are only available to borrowers over 62 years old.

Pros Of Reverse Mortgages:

• A reverse mortgage is a quick way to get money if you have lots of equity in your home and you’re in need of cash. It’s commonly used by senior citizens who own a house but don’t have enough retirement funds to support themselves.

Cons Of Reverse Mortgages:

• You lose equity in your home when you take out a reverse mortgage. If you’re not careful, you could lose majority ownership of your home or make it very difficult to pass on the home to your descendants.

Home Buyers Who Might Benefit:

• You need a monthly cash supply, and you have high equity in a home. You’re confident that you’re not going to give the home to loved ones after you pass away.

What Is a Mortgage Refinance?

A mortgage refinance is when you pay off your old mortgage with a new mortgage that has a lower interest rate. You may want to consider a mortgage refinance if you’re able to reduce your interest by at least 2%. 

For example, you might choose to refinance if your original mortgage had a 5% interest rate, but you’re able to get a new mortgage with just 3% interest.

In order to refinance your mortgage, you also must have earned at least 20% equity in the home.

How to Choose the Best Mortgage for You

Explain some of the factors they should consider when finding the right mortgage for them 

The best type of mortgage loan depends on your individual preferences and situation. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you a first-time home buyer? First-time buyers have access to a large number of different loan types.
• Do you qualify for a government-backed loan?
• What’s your credit score? Can you improve your credit score before you take out a mortgage?
• How long do you plan on owning or living in the home you wish to buy?
• What’s your income? What’s the maximum monthly payment you can afford?

Answering these questions will help you narrow down the many different types of mortgages and find one with the best rates and terms for you. 

Don’t forget that your credit score, income, debt, and property location all influence the home buying process and the type of mortgages you can get. 

Prior to choosing your home loan, calculate your estimated purchase and refinancing costs with a home affordability calculator.

Use Mint to Help You Manage Mortgage Payments

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Track your mortgage payments on the Mint app. Mint can help you stay on top of your budget, so you can ensure that you can afford your mortgage and don’t miss payments. Try the app today and discover how much easier managing the costs of homeownership can be.