Mortgage programs & assistance
High-level guides to programs people commonly research—FHA, VA, conventional, USDA, and down-payment assistance. Not a qualification tool. We show the public record. You decide.
Try the program finderMortgage program
Conventional loans
The common baseline for many purchase and refinance loans.
Read overviewMortgage program
FHA loans
Federal Housing Administration–insured mortgages with flexible credit and down-payment themes.
Read overviewMortgage program
VA loans
VA-backed loans for eligible service members, veterans, and some surviving spouses.
Read overviewMortgage program
USDA rural development loans
Zero-down purchase options in eligible rural and some suburban areas (income and map-based).
Read overviewMortgage program
Down-payment assistance (DPA)
State, local, and nonprofit help with down payment or closing costs—layered on a first mortgage.
Read overviewSide-by-side themes (plain language)
High-level research framing only. Exact terms depend on the product year, property, full file, and lender overlays—not this table.
| Theme | Conventional | FHA | VA | USDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Down payment | Often ~3%–20%+ (product-specific) | Often ~3.5% discussed for purchase | Often $0 when entitlement allows | Often $0 when fully eligible |
| Mortgage insurance | PMI common below 20% down | Upfront + annual MIP (not PMI) | No monthly PMI; funding fee common | USDA guarantee / annual fees |
| Eligibility themes | Investor + lender guidelines; no VA/FHA agency guarantee | Primary residence themes; property standards; lender overlays | Service eligibility + COE; residual income | Map + income limits; primary residence |
| Common use cases | Baseline purchase & refinance shopping | First-time / lower cash-to-close research | Eligible military / veteran primary purchases | Rural / edge-metro low-down purchases |
Down-payment assistance is a separate layer
First-time / cash-constrained buyers (with a first mortgage). It usually stacks on a first mortgage (often FHA or conventional) and does not replace mortgage insurance on that first loan. Read the DPA overview.