Even though a conventional loan is the most common mortgage, it is surprisingly difficult to get. Borrowers need to have a minimum credit score of about 620 in order to qualify—the highest minimum score of all mortgage products—and have a debt-to-income ratio of 43% or less.
While conventional loans allow you to make a slightly smaller down payment of 3%, you must have a credit score of at least 620 to qualify. When you're deciding between a conventional loan versus an FHA loan, it's important to consider the cost of mortgage insurance.
In 2022, 9.1 percent of home purchase applications were denied — up from 8.3 percent the year before, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Credit issues, changes in employment status and high debt-to-income ratios are three of the most common reasons that applicants get denied.
They are looking at whether you pay your bills on time and how much revolving credit you have, as well as whether you have any prior bankruptcies and/or foreclosures. If your credit cards are almost maxed out and/or you have a history of late payments, you won't qualify for a conventional mortgage.
The minimum down payment required for a conventional mortgage is 3%, but borrowers with lower credit scores or higher debt-to-income ratios may be required to put down more. You'll also likely need a larger down payment for a jumbo loan or a loan for a second home or investment property.
Most lenders offer conventional loans with PMI for down payments ranging from 5 percent to 15 percent. Some lenders may offer conventional loans with 3 percent down payments. A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan. FHA loans are available with a down payment of 3.5 percent or higher.
Federal Housing Administration loans: 14.4% denial rate. Jumbo loans: 17.8% denial rate. Conventional conforming loans: 7.6% denial rate. Refinance loans: 24.7% denial rate.
Higher Closing Costs
As noted above, conventional loans tend to have lower closing costs (and be cheaper in general) than government-backed options. However, the downside of conventional loans is that they don't offer as much flexibility to help you avoid paying those costs upfront.
How often does an underwriter deny a loan? A mortgage underwriter typically denies about 1 in 10 mortgage loan applications. A mortgage loan application can be denied for many reasons, including a borrower's low credit score, recent employment change or high debt-to-income ratio.
If there are any changes to your credit score or employment status, your loan can be denied during the final countdown. How can you protect yourself so that your loan isn't denied at the final step? First, don't quit your job or start a new one, even if it means a pay raise.
Because they don't come with this kind of insurance, conventional mortgages generally have stricter eligibility requirements. You'll need a higher credit score, lower debt-to-income ratio, and more money for a down payment.
For this reason, the interaction between a loan officer and an underwriter is limited to a simple transfer of the borrower's facts and data. A loan officer may not attempt to influence the underwriter. Loan officers and underwriters are both crucial roles in the home buying process.
The required credit score to buy a $300K house typically ranges from 580 to 720 or higher, depending on the type of mortgage. For an FHA loan, a popular choice among first-time homebuyers for its lower down payment requirement, the minimum credit score is usually around 580.
A conventional loan is one that is not backed or insured by an agency of the federal government. There are two types of conventional mortgage loans, conforming and non-conforming.
Most mortgage lenders allow borrowers to pay off up to 20% of the loan balance each year. Instead, a mortgage prepayment penalty typically applies in situations such as refinancing, selling or otherwise paying off large amounts of a loan at a time.
“Conventional loans have higher minimum requirements than FHA and require a larger down payment,” Yates said. “Sellers prefer a buyer with conventional financing over FHA financing because they feel the buyer is in a better financial position.”
These rules require: A minimum credit score of about 620 to qualify, depending on the loan amount, debt-to-income ratio, and other factors. A debt-to-income ratio under 43%—may be lower for borrowers with lower credit scores. No major credit report issues, like bankruptcy or foreclosure.
A conventional loan is a great option if you have a solid credit score and a low DTI. Conventional mortgages are also a popular choice for home buyers making a down payment of 20% or more. That's because paying more upfront means lower monthly payments and avoiding paying private mortgage insurance (PMI).
Another way to protect your earnest money is to include a financing contingency in your real estate contract. Basically this means that the purchase of this property depends on your getting a loan first. If a loan can't be secured, then you won't buy the house—and can take back your earnest money.
From application to approval and closing, getting a mortgage can take anywhere from 30 days to 60 days. However, some home purchases can take longer, depending on factors unique to the purchase transaction and the home loan processing time.
On average, it takes 7-10 days to get a pre-approval, although in some cases it may take less time. To speed up the home loan pre-approval time, you should gather your financial documents that the lender will require (e.g., W2s, proof of income, tax returns, etc.).
If you have a conventional loan, $800 in monthly debt obligations and a $10,000 down payment, you can afford a home that's around $250,000 in today's interest rate environment.
As a general guideline, 43% is the highest DTI ratio a borrower can have and still get qualified for a mortgage. Ideally, lenders prefer a debt-to-income ratio lower than 36%, with no more than 28% of that debt going towards servicing a mortgage or rent payment. 2 The maximum DTI ratio varies from lender to lender.
A 620 credit score is typically what you'll need to get a mortgage for a home purchase. Although you can buy a house with a credit score as low as 500, you'll pay a higher rate and make a larger down payment.