Conventional Loans
A conventional loan is a loan backed by either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the two entities which comprise the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). More than half of all new mortgage loans are conventional loans. It can be used to finance all different types of residential properties. Down payments generally range from 5% -20% of the purchase price. Conventional loans tend to have cheaper mortgage insurance than any other loan program! The loan generally requires some form of mortgage insurance if the down payment is less than 20 percent. A conventional loan caters to those who have more money to put down & great credit scores. Conventional loans can be offered in 30-year, 25-year, 20-year, and even 15-year options. When choosing a mortgage you can opt between a fixed rate or an adjustable rate. A fixed rate mortgage never changes the interest rate during the life of the loan, whereas an adjustable rate can raise or lower depending on average interest rates at the time.
Conventional Mortgages can also be categorized as conforming or non-conforming. If a loan falls under the underwriting requirements set forth by the government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, it is deemed a conforming loan. If a loan does not meet all these requirements, it is considered a non-conforming loan.
The most common way to determine if a mortgage is conforming is the loan amount, a mortgage with a loan amount below $484,350 is generally considered conforming, whereas any loan amount above $484,350 is considered nonconforming, better known as a Jumbo Mortgage. Conforming limits tend to vary depending on the area of the country. Jumbo Mortgages can sometimes a higher interest rate because they carry greater risk.
WHY CHOOSE A CONVENTIONAL LOAN?
- As low as 3% down on a primary residence purchase
- Debt-to-income ratio as high as 45%
- Qualifying guidelines more strict than FHA
- Requires monthly mortgage insurance (MI) if down payment is less than 20%
- MI can be canceled at 80% loan-to-value
- Loan amount up to $484,350 (anything higher is a jumbo loan)
*Loan terms and limits subject to change. This page is meant for educational purposes is not a commitment to lend
WHY WE CHOSE A CONVENTIONAL LOAN
We have done a couple of mortgage with The Staples Group now because the experience has been very enjoyable. We had worked with another lender in our first home purchase and were pleasantly surprised at how low the Staple Group rates were just how much they communicated with us during the process! When spending so much money it was nice to always know what was going on. After doing an FHA loan for our first home purchase, we opted for a conventional mortgage in our most recent transaction because we were able to come up with 20% down and avoid mortgage insurance entirely! It feels great to not pay mortgage insurance anymore!
– The Glauser Family
FHA LOANS
BACKED BY FHA
With an FHA mortgage, you have the confidence that the loan is funded by Sun American Mortgage and backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA is the largest insurer of residential mortgages in the world. The FHA loan allows buyers to purchase a home for only 3.5% down. An FHA loan is excellent for someone who has less money to put down, and someone who has higher debt-to-income ratios, or someone whose credit is less than perfect.
WHY CHOOSE AN FHA LOAN?
- Only 3.5% down
- Flexible qualification guidelines
- Debt-to-income ratio as high as 55%
- Requires up-front & monthly mortgage insurance (MI)
- Maximum loan limits vary by county
- MI required for the entire life of the loan
- Allows for no cost, no qualifying “streamline” refinance
WHY WE CHOSE AN FHA LOAN
We called Becky and Brandon after seeing how many positive reviews they had online. It was our first home purchase and we wanted to make sure we knew about all of our options. We met with them and they showed us all of our options. We ended up choosing an FHA loan because of the great interest rate and the fact that we only had to put 3.5% down. Our realtor negotiated to have all of our closing costs paid for by the seller so it worked out perfect for us! We are so grateful! We recommend them to all our family and friends!
– The Cervantes Family
REVERSE MORTGAGES
NO MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENTS
Reverse Mortgages – If You’re Over 62, Let The Bank Pay You.
A reverse mortgage or home equity conversion mortgage (HECM) is a type of home loan for older homeowners (62 years or older) that requires no monthly mortgage payments. This is an FHA insured loan. A reverse mortgage allows those who are at least 62 years of age, or older, to pay off a forward mortgage or use the equity in their home for other purposes. In general terms, a borrower needs at least 40 to 50% in equity to be able to purchase or refinance with a reverse mortgage.
The amount varies depending on the age of the borrowers. Those who qualify can get a lump sum of cash, a monthly income, a line-of-credit, or a combination of those things. Owners retain title to the property. No repayment is required as long as the borrower lives in the property. In the event of death, heirs are responsible to pay off the lower of the loan balance or sales price of the home.
WHY CHOOSE A REVERSE MORTGAGE?
- As low as 3% down on a primary residence purchase
- Debt-to-income ratio as high as 45%
- Qualifying guidelines more strict than FHA
- Requires monthly mortgage insurance (MI) if down payment is less than 20%
- MI can be canceled at 80% loan-to-value loan amount up to $417,000 (anything higher is a jumbo loan)
WHY WE CHOSE AN REVERSE MORTGAGE
When health issues arose and we could no longer stay in our home because my husband needed a one level home. Knowing this would be our final home, we chose to do a Reverse Mortgage.
We did it mainly for the purpose of not having a mortgage payment. It would free up a little money for things that might come up. Being older you never know what issues you will be facing.
Our realtor directed us to The Staples Group and mortgage loan consultant Nan Glauser. She was wonderful in helping us every step. One thing I appreciate about Nan was that she was always letting us know what was happening with each step that needed to be done. She would contact me at least weekly and most often many times a week or daily. I felt like she really cared and was concerned about us, especially with my husband’s health issues. It was a blessing having Nan Glauser as our consultant.
Thank you Nan for blessing us and getting us into our new dream home that we love and are enjoying so much.
– The Alldredge Family
RURAL USDA LOANS
Rural Housing USDA Loans – $0 Down. Easy To Qualify. Lower Rates
The USDA Rural Housing program is a federal program designed to help certain lower population towns and counties grow by giving home buyers a better deal, better terms, and more options when they buy or refinance a home.
WHY CHOOSE A RURAL HOUSING USDA LOAN?
- Buy your home with a USDA Loan!
- $0 down
- Low monthly mortgage insurance
- USDA low closing costs
- Available for 30 year fixed rate loans only
- Available for properties in specified rural areas
- Flexible qualification guidelines
- Financing up to 103.5% of the appraised value
- Requires up-front guarantee premium & low rate monthly MI
- Maximum income limits vary by county
WHY WE CHOSE A RURAL HOUSING USDA LOAN
When my wife and I decided to move to Utah, I started my home search online. I found the Staples Group on Facebook and after reading all of their positive reviews I decided to call them. I knew I made the right choice after our very first meeting. Becky took things very slowly and explained all of our options to us. I decided to go with the USDA Rural housing loan because of the low mortgage insurance and the ability to put zero money down. We ended up building a home and are really happy how it turned out. We were also pleasantly surprised when they found us a grant for $2,000 from our city! They are my lenders for life!
– The Rogers Family
VA LOANS
AFFORDABLE HOME FINANCING
This is a Veterans Administration insured loan available to Veterans of the Armed Forces. It allows for 103% financing so a veteran can buy a home for no money down and finance the closing costs. The VA charges an up-front funding fee (which can be financed into the loan) that varies based on whether or not it is the borrower’s first time getting a VA mortgage. This program is a perfect option for a Veteran seeking the most affordable type of home financing.
- Loan Terms: 15 & 30 Year Loan
- Interest Rate Types: Purchase, Refinance
- Loan Types: Fixed, Adjustable
- Property Type: Primary Residence
WHY CHOOSE A VETERANS ADMINISTRATION LOAN?
- Available to eligible veterans only
- No down payment required
- VA up-front funding fee, but no monthly MI
- Allows for no cost, no qualifying “streamline” refinance
- Available for 30 year fixed-rate loans only
- Subject to VA eligibility rules
WHY WE CHOSE A VA LOAN
I moved across the country for a new job opportunity in Southern Utah. As I didn’t know any local lenders, my realtor recommended I use Becky for my VA loan. I am glad I did. She and her team kept me very informed and I felt like they were very organized. This helped take some off the load of for me during the big move. I would definitely recommend them to my family and friends!
– The Hicks Family
UTAH HOUSING LOAN
A Utah Housing Loan is a ZERO down loan program that offers flexibility for buyers needing help with down payment and closing costs. Utah Housing Corporation (UHC) was created in 1975 by Utah legislation to serve a public purpose in creating an adequate supply of money with which mortgage loans at reasonable interest rates could be made to help provide affordable housing for low and moderate income persons.
UHC Loan Programs offer mortgage loans to qualified first time homebuyers and homebuyers who have previously owned a home. UHC provides down payment and closing cost assistance helping homebuyers without the required funds to purchase a home. If cash at closing is your challenge, the Utah Housing Down Payment Assistance Second Mortgage can help. When combined with a first mortgage, qualified borrowers can purchase a home with little or no cash investment.
WHY CHOOSE A UTAH HOUSING LOAN?
- Your total gross household income must fall within the income limit restrictions. These limits vary by county so please call (435) 216-3081 to find out if you qualify.
- Your credit history must indicate that you pay your bills on time. You must have at least a 620 credit score.
- You must be able to qualify for government (FHA) or conventional financing. Get pre-approved today!
- You must live in the home – can’t purchase as a rental.
- Non-occupant co-signers are allowed (First Home Loan only)
WHY WE CHOSE A JUMBO LOAN
I found the Staples Group on Facebook and after reading more about the reviews decided to call them to help me buy my first home. My wife and I were moving to Utah from a different state so we were worried about lining everything up right and managing the costs for a major move.
Brandon & Becky recommended the Utah Housing loan for us. The loan worked out great and we were able to purchase a brand new home!! We are very grateful that they kept us in the loop and helped us organize the timing of things just right during a stressful time!
– The Davis Family
St. George, UT 84770
St. George: 435.216.3081
Richfield: 435.633.5842
Arizona: 480.244.9002