Conventional Fixed-Rate Loan
The Conventional Fixed-Rate Loan is the backbone of the U.S. mortgage market. The rate is locked for the entire term, usually 30, 20, or 15 years, so the principal and interest portion of the payment never changes. Taxes, homeowners insurance, and private mortgage insurance, when equity is below 20%, can still change over time, but the loan itself does not reprice.
This is the program buyers reach for when predictability outweighs short-term rate savings. It follows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, which means credit standards are strict but consistent. A 620 minimum credit score is generally required, with meaningfully better pricing at 680, 720, and 740. Debt-to-income ratios typically cap around 45% to 50%, and two years of documented employment or income history is standard.
The down payment is more flexible than many buyers assume. Owner-occupied primary residences can go as low as 3% down for qualifying first-time buyers, 5% down for repeat buyers, 10% to 15% down for second homes, and 20% to 25% down for investment properties. Anything below 20% equity triggers PMI, but unlike FHA mortgage insurance, PMI can eventually fall off. It may be removed automatically at 78% loan-to-value based on the original schedule, or by request at 80% loan-to-value.
Ask a licensed mortgage professional three things before targeting this program: what your rate looks like for a 30-year term compared with a 15-year term, whether a slightly higher down payment removes PMI or lowers pricing enough to justify the additional cash, and how your credit score band affects the rate compared with the next band up. Small credit-score improvements often unlock better pricing than large down-payment increases.

