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 640 in order to qualify—the highest minimum score of all mortgage products—and have a debt-to-income ratio of 43% or less.
If you have a 600 credit score, bumping your score up to 620 (which is considered a fair credit score), can help you qualify for a conventional loan. The Fannie Mae HomeReady program is available to home buyers with a 620 score.
To qualify for a 3-percent-down conventional loan, you typically need a credit score of at least 620, a two-year employment history, steady income, and a debt-to-income ratio (DTI) below 43 percent. If you apply for the HomeReady or Home Possible loan, there are also income limits.
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.
Cons: Why a conventional mortgage may not be right for you
The eligibility requirements for conventional loans are more stringent than government-backed loans. Conforming loans are sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac soon after being created to help keep mortgages affordable for homebuyers.
A conventional loan is often better if you have good or excellent credit because your mortgage rate and PMI costs will go down. But an FHA loan can be perfect if your credit score is in the high-500s or low-600s. For lower-credit borrowers, FHA is often the cheaper option.
The mortgage approval process can take anywhere from 30 days to several months, depending on the status of the market and your personal circumstances.
A conventional loan requires a credit score of at least 620, but it's ideal to have a score of 740 or above, which could allow you to make a lower down payment, get a more attractive interest rate and save on private mortgage insurance.
To purchase a $300K house, you may need to make between $50,000 and $74,500 a year. This is a rule of thumb, and the specific salary will vary depending on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, the type of home loan, loan term, and mortgage rate.
Lenders will usually offer an FHA loan to someone with a credit score as low as 500, as long as they can put down 10%. With a credit score above 580, you could qualify for a down payment as low as 3.5%.
Typically, conventional loans require PMI when you put down less than 20 percent. The most common way to pay for PMI is a monthly premium, added to your monthly mortgage payment. Most lenders offer conventional loans with PMI for down payments ranging from 5 percent to 15 percent.
The Conventional Appraisal
Conventional appraisers base their valuation of a home's worth on three essential factors: location, condition and area comparables for similar houses. They'll also look for safety or health concerns in the home that would diminish the desirability of the home and thus reduce its value.
Sellers' Own Perceptions
Sellers often prefer conventional buyers because of their own financial views. Because a conventional loan typically requires higher credit and more money down, sellers often deem these reasons as a lower risk to default and traits of a trustworthy buyer.
FHA loans tend to have higher closing costs than conventional loans, but because FHA loans allow the seller to pay for more of your closing costs than conventional loans, they may actually be cheaper.
The more money you put down, the better. Your monthly mortgage payment will be lower because you're financing less of the home's purchase price, and you can possibly get a lower mortgage rate.
A conventional loan is a great option if you have a solid credit score and little debt. You can avoid PMI by paying 20% of the loan upfront, which will lower your mortgage payments. If you're unable to make a large payment upfront, conventional loans are available with a down payment as low as 3%.
No down payment is required for VA, USDA and doctor loan programs detailed above. What credit score do I need to buy a house with no money down? No-down-payment lenders usually set 620 as the lowest credit score to buy a house.
To summarize
The difference between putting down 20% versus 5% is obvious. The amount of interest and private mortgage insurance you save is significant. The difference between a 5% down payment and 10% down payment becomes less significant. Going into home ownership with a solid savings balance is necessary.
There are conventional loan options that require a down payment of as little as 3 percent, but many lenders impose a 5 percent minimum. If the loan is for a vacation home or a multifamily property, you could be required to put down more, generally 10 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
Conventional Loans. FHA loans allow lower credit scores than conventional mortgages do, and are easier to qualify for. Conventional loans allow slightly lower down payments.
Why Get a Balloon Mortgage? People who expect to stay in their home for only a short period of time may opt for a balloon mortgage. It comes with low monthly payments and a much lower overall cost, since it is paid off in a few years rather than in 20 or 30 years like a conventional mortgage.
Closing costs are paid according to the terms of the purchase contract made between the buyer and seller. Usually the buyer pays for most of the closing costs, but there are instances when the seller may have to pay some fees at closing too.