FHA Loans
FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration and are commonly reviewed for borrowers who need flexible credit, down payment, or qualification rules.
Before you decide
- FHA is an insurance program, not a lender brand.
- Property standards and mortgage insurance are part of the review.
- FHA can be used for purchase and some refinance situations.
Where FHA Can Help
FHA loans can help borrowers who need more flexible qualification, but the lender still reviews the borrower, the property, and mortgage insurance costs.
When To Compare FHA
Compare FHA when credit, debt ratio, limited down payment, or prior credit events make conventional financing harder. Also compare total payment and mortgage insurance over time.
Keep reading
A purchase loan helps a borrower buy a home and is evaluated through income, assets, credit, property, occupancy, down payment, and program-specific rules.
Refinance MortgagesA refinance replaces an existing mortgage with a new loan structure and should be evaluated by purpose, costs, payment change, equity, timeline, and break-even logic.
Debt-to-Income RatioDebt-to-income ratio compares the monthly debts a lender counts with the income a lender can document. It is one part of mortgage approval.
LTV and CLTVLTV compares one loan balance to property value, while CLTV considers combined liens; both affect mortgage eligibility, pricing, insurance, and equity options.
Where this information comes from
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - official
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/handbook_4000-1NMLS - official
https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/Reviewed by Nick Cunningham, NMLS #907393. Last reviewed 2026-06-07.
Educational information only. Not personal financial, legal, tax, or benefits advice.