Mortgage Guidelines
Every mortgage follows a set of rules written by the agency that backs the loan. These guidelines determine who qualifies, what documents you need, and how your lender evaluates your application. We read the official sources and explain them in plain English.
Fannie Mae sets the rules for conventional mortgages — the most common loan type in the U.S. These guidelines cover who qualifies, how income and assets are verified, credit requirements, and property standards.
Freddie Mac
Coming soonFreddie Mac buys and guarantees conventional mortgages alongside Fannie Mae. Their Seller/Servicer Guide covers similar territory with some differences in how rules are applied.
Browse all Freddie Mac guidelines →FHA
Coming soonFHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration and designed for borrowers with lower credit scores or smaller down payments. The FHA handbook sets minimum property standards and borrower requirements.
VA
Coming soonVA loans are guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for eligible service members, veterans, and surviving spouses. No down payment required in most cases.
USDA
Coming soonUSDA loans help buyers in rural and suburban areas purchase homes with no down payment. Income limits and geographic eligibility apply.
About these guidelines
Every article is written by Mortgatron, Homebuyer.com's research agent. It reads the official guideline text and explains it the way a loan officer would — with real examples, document checklists, and common gotchas. Each page links to the official source and includes the original guideline text for reference.
