Which loans have different insurance policies than conventional loans regarding down payments?

FHA and VA loans have distinct insurance policies compared to conventional loans, particularly regarding down payments.

FHA loans, insured by the Federal Housing Administration, are designed to make homeownership accessible, especially for first-time buyers or those with lower credit scores. They allow down payments as low as 3.5% of the purchase price, making it easier for borrowers to qualify without saving a substantial amount for a larger down payment typically required by conventional loans.

VA loans, offered to eligible veterans and active-duty service members, do not require any down payment at all, making them unique among loan types. They also do not require mortgage insurance, which is another significant advantage over conventional loans, where mortgage insurance is typically required when the down payment is less than 20%.

In contrast, subprime loans tend to come with higher interest rates due to the higher risk associated with lending to borrowers with lower credit scores, but they do not specifically alter down payment insurance policies. Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) and home equity loans focus on specific loan structures and do not inherently relate to down payment requirements or insurance policies in the way FHA and VA loans do.