08/05/2026
I hear this question all the time:
"Should I go with an FHA or a Conventional loan?" 🏡
It's a great question. After more than 24 years in the mortgage industry, I've learned there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
Many people assume conventional loans require a huge down payment, but that's not true. In fact, you can qualify for a conventional loan with as little as 3% down, compared to 3.5% down for FHA.
The biggest factor is usually your credit score.
Generally speaking:
✅ Around 680+: Conventional is often the better option.
✅ Below 680: FHA frequently provides the better financing solution.
The reason? Mortgage insurance.
With FHA, the monthly mortgage insurance is essentially one-size-fits-all. It isn't based on your credit score, so borrowers with excellent credit pay the same mortgage insurance rate as borrowers with lower scores.
With Conventional, mortgage insurance is risk-based. The better your FICO score, the lower your monthly mortgage insurance is likely to be. That means two borrowers with different credit scores can have very different monthly payments, even if they're buying the same home.
On top of that, conventional mortgage insurance can generally be removed once you have enough equity in your home. With FHA, if you put less than 10% down, the monthly mortgage insurance typically remains for the life of the loan.
That's why we don't guess. We compare both loan options side by side to determine which one saves you the most money based on your credit score, down payment, and long-term goals.
Every borrower is different, and the best loan is the one that puts the most money back in your pocket.
If you're wondering whether FHA or Conventional is the better fit for you, send me a message. I'm happy to run both scenarios for you.