This guide to Conventional vs FHA mortgages compares the similarities and differences of two popular first-time home buyer mortgages to help you pick the best mortgage loan for your home.
The Differences Between Conventional and FHA Mortgages
Choosing the right mortgage is pivotal for a first-time home buyer. The two most popular mortgages for first-time buyers, Conventional and FHA mortgages, harbor a lot of similarities. They’re also different in a lot of ways.
Highlights: Conventional Mortgage
Conventional mortgages are home loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, under the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). They are categorized into conforming and non-conforming mortgages. Conforming mortgages align with FHFA mortgage guidelines and mortgage loan limits, while non-conforming mortgages, often called jumbo mortgages, exceed these limits.
Available in various fixed-rate (30-year, 20-year, 15-year, 10-year) and adjustable-rate mortgage options, these loans offer flexibility in terms and payment plans. To qualify, home buyers generally require:
- A down payment of at least 3 percent
- Verified source of income
- A minimum credit score of 620
- Loan sizes within local mortgage limits
- Structurally sound and habitable homes
Highlights: FHA Mortgage
FHA loans, insured by the Federal Housing Administration, are part of an inclusive mortgage program to make homeownership more accessible and affordable, especially for first-time home buyers. FHA loans have supported home buyers since 1934 by offering mortgage default insurance to banks.
FHA mortgages are available as 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate, or adjustable-rate mortgages, adhering to specific loan limits. The key features include:
- A minimum down payment of 3.5 percent
- Verifiable income requirements
- No strict enforcement of minimum credit scores
- Eligibility for residential properties with 1-4 units
- No penalties for early loan repayment
These less stringent guidelines make FHA loans particularly suitable for those who might not qualify for other loan types, supporting a wider range of home buyers.
Mortgages At-A-Glance
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| Minimum Loan Size Allowed | None | None |
| Maximum Loan Size Allowed | See Loan Limits | See Loan Limits |
| Maximum Household Income Allowed | No Restrictions | No Restrictions |
| Minimum Credit Score Required | 620 | 500 |
| Debt-to-Income Maximum - Standard | 50.00% | 43.00% |
| Debt-to-Income Maximum with Compensating Factors | 50.00% | 50.00% |
| Minimum Downpayment Required | 3.00% | 3.50% |
| Maximum Loan-To-Value Allowed | 97.00% | 96.50% |
| Maximum Combined Loan-to-Value Allowed | 1.05 | 1.25 |
| First-Time Homebuyer Education Required | No | No |
| Minimum Age Allowed | Minimum Legal Age | Minimum Legal Age |
| Maximum Age Allowed | None | None |
| First-Time Home Buyers Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| First-Time Home Buyers Only | No | No |
| Low-Down Payment Mortgage Classification | No | Yes |
| Income Verification Required | Yes | Yes |
| Military Service Required | No | No |
| States Allowed | All States | All States |
| Homeowners Insurance Required | Yes | Yes |
| Escrow Taxes & Insurance Required | Recommended | Yes |
Compare Mortgage Statistics
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| Average Interest Rate: Last Year | 4.97% | 4.99% |
| Average Loan Size: Last Year | $402,642 | $279,773 |
| Average Approval Rate: Last Year | 70.51% | 75.02% |
| Market Share: Last Year | 69.70% | 17.97% |
| Purchase Mortgages Originated: Last Year | 3,442,038 | 887,234 |
Compare Mortgage Products
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| 1-Year ARM Available | Yes | Yes |
| 5-Year ARM Available | Yes | Yes |
| 10-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Available | Yes | Yes |
| 15-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Available | Yes | Yes |
| 20-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Available | Yes | Yes |
| 25-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Available | No | Yes |
| 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Available | Yes | Yes |
| Temporary Buydowns Available | Yes | Restricted |
Compare Mortgage Insurance
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| Funding Fee / Guarantee Fee | No | No |
| Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium | No | Yes |
| Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium | No | Yes |
| Private Mortgage Insurance | Yes | No |
Compare Occupancy Rules
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| Primary Residence | Yes | Yes |
| Second Home | Yes | Restricted |
| Vacation Home | Yes | No |
| Investment Property | Yes | No |
| Non-Occupant Co-Borrower | Yes | Yes |
Compare Citizenship Rules
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| U.S. Citizen Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Permanent Resident Alien Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Non-Permanent Resident Alien Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign National Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Buyers With Diplomatic Immunity Allowed | Yes | Yes |
Compare Credit Rules
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| Credit Scoring Model | Tri-merge | Tri-merge |
| Non-Traditional Credit References Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Deferred Student Loans | Lesser of 5% of balance or monthly payment | Actual Payment or 0.5% of Loan Balance |
| Deferred Debt Calculation | Lesser of 5% of balance or monthly payment | Lesser of 5% of balance or monthly payment |
| Pay Off Medical Collections Prior To Closing | Not Required | Not Required |
| Pay Off Non-Medical Collections Prior To Closing | Not Required | Required when collections exceed $2,000 |
| Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 | 2-Year Waiting Period | 2-Year Waiting Period |
| Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 | 4-Year Waiting Period | 1-Year From Filing |
| Short Sale | 4-Year Waiting Period | 3-Year Waiting Period |
| Foreclosure | 7-Year Waiting Period | 3-Year Waiting Period |
| Judgments & Liens Allowed | Must be satisfied | Must be satified |
| Federal Income Tax Delinquency Allowed | Must be satisfied | No |
Compare Property Rules
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| Minimum Square Footage Allowed | No minimum | No minimum |
| Maximum Square Footage Allowed | No maximum | No maximum |
| Single-Family Residences Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Condominiums Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Non-Warrantable Condominiums Allowed | No | No |
| Co-ops Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Townhomes Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| 2-4 Unit Homes Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Manufactured Homes Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Fraternity and Sorority Houses Allowed | No | No |
| Tiny Homes Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Modular Homes Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Cob Homes Allowed | No | No |
| Shipping Container Homes Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Condotels Allowed | No | No |
| Bed & Breakfast Allowed | No | No |
| Working Farms Allowed | No | No |
| Working Ranches Allowed | No | No |
| Houseboats Allowed | No | No |
| Log Homes Allowed | No | Yes |
| Geodesic Homes Allowed | No | No |
| Timeshares Allowed | No | No |
| Homes with Solar Panels Allowed | Restricted | Restricted |
| 3-D Printed Homes Allowed | Yes | No |
| Leasehold Estates Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Mixed-Use Properties Allowed | No | Yes |
| Flood Zones Allowed | Only where insurable | Only where insurable |
| Properties With More Than 20 Acres Allowed | No | Yes |
| Properties with PACE Allowed | No | No |
Compare Ownership Rules
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| Inter Vivos Revocable Trust Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Closing in a Corporation Allowed | No | Yes |
| Community Land Trust Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Non-Profit Organizations Allowed | No | Yes |
| Municipal Government Agencies Allowed | No | Yes |
Compare Income Rules
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| W-2 Income Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Self-Employment Income Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Income Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Retirement Income Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Trust Income Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Social Security Income Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Military Income Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Rental Income Allowed | Restricted | Restricted |
| Asset Depletion as Income Allowed | Yes | No |
| Offer Letter Income Allowed | Yes | No |
| Disability Income Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Alimony and Child Support Income Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Boarder Income Allowed | No | Restricted |
| Accessory Dwelling Unit Income Allowed | No | Yes |
| Cannabis Industry Income Allowed | Yes | No |
| Automobile Allowance as Income Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Housing Allowance as Income Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Temporary Leave Income Allowed | Yes | Restricted |
| Bank Statements as Income Allowed | No | No |
| Debts Paid By Others as Income Allowed | Yes | No |
Compare Assets & Downpayment Rules
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| Seasoning Requirements | 60 Days | 30 Days |
| Reserves Required | No | No |
| Cash Gift For Downpayment Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Seller Concessions, Maximum | 3.00% | 6.00% |
| Salary Advance for Downpayment Allowed | No | No |
| Relocation Funds for Downpayment Allowed | Restricted | Restricted |
| Gift of Equity Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Sweat Equity Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto for Downpayment Allowed | Yes | Restricted |
| Cash Value For Credit Card Rewards Allowed | Yes | No |
| Cash Value For Airline Rewards Allowed | Yes | No |
Compare Loan Traits
| Loan Feature | Conventional | FHA |
| Assumable Mortgage Allowed | No | Yes |
| Trailing Co-Borrower Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum Properties Financed Allowed | 10 | 1 |
| Flipped Homes Allowed | Restricted | Restricted |
| Arms-Length Transaction Required | Yes | No |
| Occupancy Deadline | 60 days | 60 days |
| Delayed Financing Allowed | Yes | No |
| Prepayment Penalty Allowed | No | No |
| Termite Inspection Required | No | Yes |
| Power of Attorney Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Repair Allowances Allowed | No | No |
| Gifts From Charitable Organizations Allowed | No | No |
Sources: FHFA, FHA
Important Notice For Home Buyers
This mortgage comparison between conventional and FHA mortgages is subject to change without notice and may vary between lenders. The information provided here is based on official mortgage guidelines from the FHFA and FHA.
Individual mortgage lenders may have their own variation of these guidelines, called lender overlays, which could affect your mortgage approval process.
If you are turned down for a mortgage by one lender, it does not necessarily mean that you will be denied by all mortgage lenders. Different mortgage companies have different criteria, and it may be possible to get approved with another lender.
Consult with multiple lenders to explore your mortgage choices.
Find Out More: Conventional and FHA Mortgages
Eager to learn more and make an informed decision? Dive into the details by visiting our comprehensive conventional Mortgage and FHA mortgages guides. And when you’re ready to move forward, start your mortgage pre-approval at Homebuyer.com.
Pre-approved buyers do better. Get started now.
