FHA Loan Down Payments | Requirements 2026
With an FHA loan, you can buy a home with as little as 3.5% down. Your FHA loan down payment minimum depends on your credit score.
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Peter Warden
Peter Warden has been writing for a decade about mortgages, personal finance, credit cards, and insurance. His work has appeared across a wide range of media. He lives in a small town with his partner of 25 years.
Articles by Peter Warden
Second Mortgages | What To Know 2026
With a second mortgage, a homeowner can borrow against their home equity, usually at a lower rate than unsecured loans charge.
Conventional Loan Limits 2026
Most conventional mortgages come with caps on the amount you can borrow. These are called “conventional loan limits” or sometimes “conforming loan limits.”
Cash Out Refinance vs HELOC: What’s the difference?
A cash out refinance or HELOC (home equity line of credit) lets you turn some of your “equity” into cash. But when you’re choosing between them, you’ll need…
How much should you put down on a house?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this one and it’s going to depend on a number of factors, including the type of mortgage you want and your personal financial…
How much does it cost to refinance?
Freddie Mac says it typically costs 3% to 6% of the amount you’re borrowing to cover the closing costs of your refinance.
How much is PMI (private mortgage insurance)?
How much does mortgage insurance cost? On a conventional loan, Freddie Mac says you can expect private mortgage insurance (PMI) to cost about $30 to $70 a month…
Non-Conforming Loans: The Complete Guide
What is a non-conforming loan? A non-conforming loan is a conventional mortgage that doesn’t meet Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s rules. Conventional means no government agency insures or…
RefiNow and Refi Possible | Low-Income Refinance Programs 2026
What are RefiNow and Refi Possible? RefiNow (Fannie Mae) and Refi Possible (Freddie Mac) are refinance programs introduced in 2021 for lower-income homeowners. As of October 2026, both…
VA Loan vs Conventional Loan: Which is better?
When you weigh a VA loan vs conventional financing, the rule is simple: If you’re eligible for a VA loan, it’s likely that this will be your best…