When looking for a mortgage to buy a home, you'll be met with many options.
There are several different types of
mortgage
loans available to you – fixed rate, adjustable rate, and balloon mortgages are
just a few of them. Conventional loans are another type. Though it may be
confusing to sort out the different mortgages, this guide will explain
conventional loans and their pros and cons.
What is a Conventional Loan?
A conventional loan is
essentially a mortgage that is not guaranteed or insured by the federal
government. Almost any type of loan, including those mentioned above, can be a
conventional loan.
Conventional loans differ from the mortgage programs
offered by the government’s Veterans Administration, Federal Housing
Administration, or Rural Housing Service. Even though they aren’t part of a
government organization, most conventional loans still fall under the oversight
of government-sponsored enterprises like Fannie Mae or Freddie
Mac.
These corporations buy and sell conventional mortgages and set
the maximum loan amounts and other borrower requirements.
A conventional
loan can either be fixed rate or adjustable rate. With fixed rate, the interest
rate will remain the same throughout the term of the loan, while the interest
rate for an adjustable-rate mortgage will change based on market conditions.
Conventional loans often have better interest rates than non-conventional loans,
as long as you can pay the often-required down payment of 20% of the value of
the home. By paying such a large amount up front, you will have a relatively low
interest rate for the entire term of your conventional loan. If you can’t afford
a 20% down payment, you can still pay less for a conventional loan, though
you’ll likely face a higher interest rate.
The Pros and Cons
Now that you know what a conventional loan is,
you’ll need to determine whether it is the right option for you. There are some
clear pros and cons to getting a conventional loan, so make sure you fully
consider these before deciding on getting one.
The Pros:
- Since conventional loans are handed out by a government-sponsored
organization, and not directly by the government, there are fewer restrictions
and less government red tape. Thus, you can procure the loan a lot faster.
- Along the same vein, lenders may be more flexible in the conditions of the
loan. You might be able to negotiate more to get out of paying certain fees or
put up collateral other than the property being mortgaged. If there are any
other financial concerns, the lender may be more willing to help you out than
lenders providing government loans.
- When the property is appraised,
the home will have to meet the lender’s guidelines rather than the stringent
standards of the government organizations.
- Since conventional mortgages usually require a higher down payment, you can
build home equity a lot faster.
The Cons:
- Though interest rates for conventional loans may be lower, the rates are set
by the individual lender and aren’t as well regulated as those offered by the
government organizations.
- As mentioned above, conventional loans often require a large down payment.
- You will need to have excellent
credit to qualify for the loan and to get the best interest rates.
- Some buyers might only qualify for conventional loans with a 90%
loan-to-value ratio (which determines how much you can borrow, based on the
value of the home and the amount of the loan), leaving them to pay the rest of
the amount themselves.
A conventional loan isn't for everyone. Since
they aren't government loans, there is more flexibility as to what the lender
can offer you. Along with that independence, though, can come high interest
rates and large down payments. Still, depending on your financial situation, a
conventional loan can pay off in the end.