5 Ways to Buy a Home with 5% Down or Less
One of the most common misconceptions about mortgages is that you need 20% down to buy a home. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is…
Category
Conventional Loans
Down Payment Gift Money for First-Time & Repeat Home Buyers
Here’s one thing you should know as a first-time or repeat home buyer: You don’t have to come up with a down payment by yourself. Family members can…
Conventional Mortgage Down Payment Requirements 2026
What the minimum down payment requirement for a conventional loan? Although most people assume they need a 20% down payment to buy a home, there are low down…
Conventional Refinance | Rates, 2026 Loan Limits & Guidelines
A conventional refinance is one of the most versatile loans in today’s market. Conventional refinances can convert any type of mortgage loan into a conventional loan. Simultaneously, a…
Piggyback Loan (80/10/10 Mortgage) | Rates & Requirements 2026
An 80 10 10 loan is a mortgage option in which a home buyer receives a first and second mortgage simultaneously, covering 90% of the home's purchase price. The buyer…
Conventional Loans | Requirements & Guidelines for 2026
Most conventional loans are what’s known as “conforming loans,” which “conform” to a set of standards set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Conventional loans boast great rates,…
How to Get Rid of PMI on an FHA Loan | With or Without Refinancing 2026
FHA loans are popular for a good reason. They help home buyers especially first-time home buyers — get competitive mortgage rates even if they have lower credit scores…
Fannie Mae Family Opportunity Mortgage | 2026 Guidelines
You can buy a house for an elderly parent and get better interest rates by classifying it as "owner occupied." The Family Opportunity Mortgage is a great way…
Conventional 97 Loan | Guidelines & Requirements 2026
What is the conventional 97 loan program? The Conventional 97 program allows homebuyers to get a conventional mortgage loan with only 3% down. The program is named for…
Buy & Repair a Home with Fannie Mae’s HomePath Renovation Mortgage
Editor’s note: Fannie Mae discontinued the HomePath program on October 6, 2014. Buyers must have had a completed home purchase contract dated on or before this date to…