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FHA, conventional, VA, USDA and ITIN loans: what each one asks for and how to compare them. Also what lenders ask of people with DACA, TPS, a green card or only an ITIN, and when refinancing makes sense.
Stage 1 of 2
From the first paper to the day you get the keys: who is involved, what you sign and what each step costs.
19 guides in this stage
Featured guide Essential guide 14 minute read
What each mortgage type asks for, what its insurance costs, fixed or adjustable rate, points and APR. A neutral comparison with official sources.
The most important thing
No loan type is best for everyone: according to the CFPB, each is designed for different situations; if several fit, get several quotes.
Verified on October 17, 2026
Essential guide ITIN mortgages: what exists and what lenders ask for Which home loans accept an ITIN and which do not: Fannie Mae's rule, what FHA and USDA say, who lends and how to compare offers. 12 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 
USDA 502 Direct loan and payment assistance USDA's Section 502 Direct loan: who qualifies, how payment assistance is figured, the modest home rule, the waiting list and paying back the subsidy. 11 min read Verified on October 31, 2026 
Student loans and getting a mortgage How FHA and Fannie Mae count your student loan: income-driven payments, $0 payments, deferment, past-due federal debt and which papers to ask for. 10 min read Verified on October 31, 2026 
Foreign income or a short U.S. work history and your mortgage How FHA and Fannie Mae count income paid from another country, a short work history, school, gaps in employment and a new job offer. 10 min read Verified on October 31, 2026 The data behind these guides
The guides on Mortgage loans cite these figures. They update when their sources publish new ones; what you see here is current.
See all the dataSources: Freddie Mac (As of November 5, 2026) · HUD (2026 data) · FHFA (2026 data)
Stage 1 of 2
Keep going with the other guides on buying, from the most read to the most specific.
Featured guide 10 minute read
How to add energy-saving improvements to your loan: FHA's EEM, Fannie Mae's HomeStyle Refresh, the energy audit and what happened to HomeStyle Energy.
The most important thing
FHA's EEM adds energy improvements that save more than they cost, based on an audit less than 120 days old.
Verified on October 31, 2026
FHA 203(k) loan: buy and repair a home with one loan How FHA's Standard and Limited 203(k) loans work: which repairs they pay for, the consultant, the draws, the deadlines and the dates on HUD's rules. 11 min read Verified on October 31, 2026 
Disability income (SSI and SSDI) and your mortgage How FHA and Fannie Mae count SSDI, SSI and other disability benefits, which papers they ask for, the tax gross-up and what a lender cannot ask you. 10 min read Verified on October 31, 2026 
Child support, alimony and your mortgage application When the child support or alimony you receive counts as income, and when what you pay counts as debt, under FHA, Fannie Mae and federal law. 10 min read Verified on October 31, 2026 
If your immigration status changes mid-process: mortgage and HUD What FHA, Fannie Mae and HUD say if your immigration status changes while you apply for or pay a mortgage or get HUD help, and your rights when you appeal. 15 min read Verified on October 29, 2026 Stage 1 of 2
Keep going with the other guides on buying, from the most read to the most specific.
Featured guide 14 minute read
How a VA home loan works: who qualifies, getting your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), the funding fee and the rule that you must live in the home.
The most important thing
VA does not lend the money: a bank or mortgage company does, and VA guarantees part of the loan.
Verified on October 17, 2026
USDA loan: no down payment in rural areas How the USDA guaranteed loan works: rural areas, the household income limit, guarantee fees, who can apply and the steps from address to keys. 12 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 
TPS, parole and work permits: which mortgages are open If you have TPS, parole or a work permit (EAD): what FHA, Fannie Mae and USDA say today, what documents a lender checks and how to compare offers. 10 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 
Non-QM and bank statement loans: what they are What a qualified mortgage (QM) is, what changes with a non-QM or bank statement loan, and what to check before you accept one. 11 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 
Jumbo loans and FHA and conforming loan limits What conforming and FHA loan limits are, how they are set county by county, what a jumbo loan is and how to find the limit where you live. 9 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 Tools
The calculators these guides use. Each one leaves you with a result you can use today.
Your monthly payment with taxes and insurance.
What you get → monthly payment
The price your income can carry.
What you get → maximum price
What each loan costs per month and over five years.
What you get → payment per loan
The cash you need on closing day.
What you get → cash to close
Stage 1 of 2
Keep going with the other guides on buying, from the most read to the most specific.
Featured guide 14 minute read
How an FHA loan works: the down payment and credit score HUD requires, MIP mortgage insurance, your county limit, the home and the residency rules.
The most important thing
FHA does not lend the money: it insures loans from private lenders, and you pay for that insurance (MIP).
Verified on October 17, 2026
Green card holders and mortgages: what lenders ask for With a green card you get the same mortgages as a citizen: what FHA, Fannie Mae and USDA say, the papers you need and what to check if your card expires. 10 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 
DACA and mortgages: what FHA, Fannie Mae and USDA say today If you have DACA and want to buy a home: what FHA, Fannie Mae and USDA rules say today, what a lender may ask you and how to compare offers. 11 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 
Conventional loan: 3% down, PMI and credit scores How a conventional loan works: HomeReady and Home Possible from 3% down, the credit score Fannie Mae requires, PMI and when the law ends it. 12 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 Stage 2 of 2
The payments, taxes, insurance and decisions that come after you buy.
6 guides in this stage
Featured guide 15 minute read
What mortgage insurance is, how conventional-loan PMI differs from FHA MIP, when each one ends and how to ask your servicer to remove it.
The most important thing
Mortgage insurance protects the lender; you pay for it because you put down less than 20%.
Verified on October 31, 2026
The VA funding fee and the IRRRL refinance How much the VA funding fee is on each loan type, who does not pay it, how to ask for a refund and the IRRRL rules for lowering your interest rate. 10 min read Verified on October 31, 2026 
Reverse mortgages (HECM): how they work and what to know What a HECM reverse mortgage is, who can get one, the required counseling, what happens to your spouse and heirs, and how to avoid scams. 13 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 
Refinancing your mortgage: types, costs and break-even Refinancing explained: rate-and-term vs cash-out, closing costs, the break-even point and FHA and VA streamline refinances. 12 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 
Refinancing from an ITIN loan to conventional or FHA If you bought with an ITIN loan and your situation changed: what Fannie Mae and FHA require to refinance, what to check in your loan, and your rights. 11 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 
HELOC vs cash-out refinance: how they compare A home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a cash-out refinance: how each works, what it costs, your rights and the risks to your home. 11 min read Verified on October 17, 2026 Frequently asked questions
Short answers taken from the guides on this topic; each one links the guide that explains it with its sources.
It depends on your credit and your down payment. The CFPB says that with good credit and a medium down payment (10% to 15%), FHA tends to cost more than conventional, and that with a lower score or a small down payment FHA is often the cheapest. VA and USDA can cost less if you qualify. There is no hard-and-fast rule: get quotes and compare total costs.
Read the full guideIt depends on the program and the lender. Fannie Mae accepts the ITIN as the borrower's number if you meet legal residency; FHA no longer accepts non-permanent residents. On top of that, some banks, credit unions and CDFIs offer ITIN loans under their own rules. If one lender says no, ask another: each one offers different kinds of loans.
Read the full guideAccording to VA's chart effective April 7, 2023, it is 0.5% of the loan amount, whether or not you have used the benefit before. You can add it to the new loan or pay it at closing.
Read the full guideWith the guaranteed loan, a bank lends and USDA guarantees it. With the 502 Direct loan, USDA lends, only to low-income households that cannot get credit elsewhere, and it can give you payment assistance. The USDA loan guide covers the other program.
Read the full guideThe full path with its steps in order, the calculators these guides use, and the agencies their rules come from.
The full path
This topic is part of a path with steps in order, so you know what to do first. Step by step, with your county's numbers. 9 steps in order.
See the pathEvery rule, number and date in these guides comes from what these agencies publish. Each guide links the exact page.
and 15 more official sources
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