Conventional Home Loans & Specialty Mortgages - Central Bank (2024)

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Mortgages: Great Rates, Local Service

Whether you’re a seasoned or first-time home buyer, buying a home is a major life event. From conventional home loans like fixed- or adjustable-rate mortgages to specialty loans, Central Bank is a trusted mortgage lender with decades of experience helping homebuyers through the purchasing process.

But our service doesn't end when you complete the home purchase. Unlike most other lenders who typically sell new mortgage loans to out-of-state firms, we keep the majority of home loan servicing in-house. So you can contact your local Central Bank branchabout your mortgage.

Our friendly loan officers provide unparalleled service, answering questions and providing support throughout the duration of your mortgage. You can stop by your local branch and speak with someone in person, or contact us via the Central Bank Home Loans app.

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What's a Conventional Mortgage?

A conventional mortgage is the most common type of home loan available through private lenders like banks and other financial institutions. Conventional mortgages have a fixed rate of interest, meaning the interest rate doesn't change during the life of the loan.

To get pre-qualified for a conventional home mortgage, potential borrowers must complete an application and supply the lender with documentation to check on credit history and credit score. Conventional mortgages include some of the most common types of home loans, with a variety of options to best meet your needs.

Types of Mortgages from Central Bank

Finding the best loan at the best mortgage rate can make all the difference when you're buying a home. From fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages to specialty loans for veterans, new home buyers and more, we offer a whole host of specialty and conventional home loans to help you get the home you want, when you want it.

Fixed-rate Mortgage

A fixed-rate mortgage keeps the same interest rate throughout the entire loan term, so your principal and interest payments won't fluctuate. This consistency can be especially helpful if you prefer a stable and predictable payment plan.

Choosing a fixed-rate mortgage with Central Bank offers you peace of mind. With competitive rates and outstanding local service, you can feel confident that you've made the right decision.

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Adjustable-rate Mortgage

Adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs, are home loans that have a fixed interest rate for a period of time, then begin to fluctuate based on specific benchmarks or indexes. Adjustable-rate mortgages can be helpful if you plan to keep the loan for a limited amount of time and can financially handle any rate increases. However, it can be difficult to budget when payments fluctuate or if interest rates drastically spike.

To make adjustable-rate mortgages more predictable, Central Bank uses an interest rate cap. This prevents your interest rate from going over a certain percentage—so you can be sure your adjustable-rate mortgage payments won’t exceed the predetermined amount over your set term.

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Specialty Home Loans

In addition to conventional home loans, Central Bank offers several other types of home loans designed for potential homeowners meeting specific criteria, such as first-time home buyers or veterans. The most common specialty loans are Federal Housing Administration (FHA),Veterans Affairs (VA) and USDA rural community loans.

  • FHA loans allow homebuyers of all income levels to purchase a home with a lower down payment, making them a great option for first-time home buyers.
  • VA loans provide qualified veterans, reservists, active duty personnel or eligible family members with loans in a wide range of rate, term and cost options.
  • USDA rural community loans and Fannie Mae programs assist moderate- to low-income buyers with the opportunity to own adequate and decent dwellings in eligible areas.
  • Physician loansfor new and established doctors looking to buy, build or a refinance a home.

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Home Loans FAQ

Still wondering which type of home loan is right for you? Browse our FAQ to learn more about which type of home loan best suits your lifestyle.

What type of property can I finance?

Central Bank can finance all types of properties. Typically, fixed-rate mortgages apply to primary residences for single families. Specialty mortgages may have unique requirements, such as military service. Or they may have income or geography requirements.

How do I know which type of home loan is right for me?

If you like predictability and the ability to budget long-term, a fixed-rate mortgage might be the right option for you. If you want a lower initial rate and believe you might move in just a few years, an adjustable-rate mortgage could be a better option.

If you think you may be eligible for a specialty loan, your local Central Bank is always happy to discuss other loan options with you to ensure your pre-approval for a home loan is as smooth as possible. Use our home mortgage calculator tool below to do various loan calculations, and see what fits best with your budget and future plans.

Will I need a down payment? How much?

The answer is almost always yes, though specialty loans do exist. In some cases, your military service or other unique qualifiers may put you in position to go the zero- or low-down payment route. How much you’ll need depends on the type of loan you choose. You can look at various scenarios using our online home mortgage calculator below.

What is escrow?

Escrow refers to funds included in your monthly mortgage payment to cover your taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Central Bank keeps these funds in an account to make payments on your behalf.

Do I qualify for a home mortgage?

Qualifying for a specialty or conventional mortgage depends on a number of factors, including your income, debt, credit score, assets and property type. The best way to find out which types of home loans work best for you is by filling out a mortgage application to get pre-qualified for a home loan. It’s easy and fast to get started—apply online!

Use Central Bank’s home mortgage calculator below to generate an amortization schedule for your current mortgage and see how much interest you’ll pay. To calculate monthly payments, compare lending scenarios and apply for a mortgage from your phone, download the Central Bank Home Loans app.

Mortgage Checklist: What You Need to get Pre-Qualified for a Home Loan

Before you apply for a specialty or conventional mortgage, it’s important to gather your financial documents. The exact documents you need will vary depending on a few different factors (for example, if you're employed by someone else or if you're self-employed). However, these are the most common types of information you might need when applying for a home loan.

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Expenses & Liabilities

Expenses and liabilities include anything that you owe to another person or institution. This could include auto or student loans, credit card balances or other personal loans.

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Investments & Liquid Assets

Investment assets are bought and sold to generate income on a short- or long-term basis. Liquid assets include readily-accessible items such as cash or items that can quickly be converted to cash.

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Employment Information

You’ll likely need to provide your employment history. Self-employed individuals may need to provide additional documentation. Your mortgage officer will explain what information is needed.

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Gross Income

To ensure you can afford your specialty or conventional home loan, you’ll need to provide your gross monthly income before any deductions for tax, child support, Social Security, 401(k), etc.

Tips for First-Time Home Buyers Applying for a Mortgage

If you're a first-time home buyer, Central Bank is ready to help you navigate this exciting step toward creating a home for you and your family. Below are just a few tips to help you get started saving and planning for your first home:

  • When budgeting for your home purchase, don’t forget to factor in costs like your down payment, closing costs and moving expenses. Central Bank can work with you on down payment requirements depending on the type of mortgage for which you qualify.
  • Monitor and maintain your credit score. Pay bills on time, and review your free credit report. Don’t make any drastic changes like closing an account or opening a new account at this time, as that may cause your credit score to fluctuate.
  • Check with yourlocal Central Bankto see if you qualify for one of our specialty home loans.
  • Ask about all available types of mortgage loans and loan terms so we can help you determine the most appropriate fit for you.
  • Use ourhome mortgage calculatorto find out what you can afford.
  • Get pre-qualified for a home mortgagebefore you start house-shopping, and request a pre-qualification letter to show realtors. Having a pre-qual letter from Central Bank helps you get ahead of other house hunters in the market who haven’t yet been pre-qualified.

Interested in a Conventional Home Loan or Specialty Mortgage Through Central Bank? Call Us to Get Started!

Purchasing a home is an exciting decision in a person’s life, and with Central Bank, you have a mortgage officer to provide support every step of the way with a variety of specialty and conventional home loans available. Get in touch withyour local Central Bankto talk about our various types of home loans, or apply to receive pre-approval for a home loan today.

Apply Now

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Conventional Home Loans & Specialty Mortgages - Central Bank (2024)

FAQs

Is it hard to get approved for a conventional home loan? ›

It's easier to qualify for a conventional loan than many first-time home buyers expect. You'll need a minimum credit score of 620 as well as two consecutive years of stable income and employment.

What credit score do you need for a conventional home loan? ›

Conventional loan requirements

Credit score: Mortgage lenders require a minimum score of 620 to qualify for a conventional loan. With a higher score, you're more likely to get a better interest rate and terms.

Why is it harder to get a conventional loan? ›

Because the government doesn't cover their potential losses, conventional lenders impose higher financial standards on borrowers who want to take out a conventional loan than they do on borrowers who want to take out a government-backed loan.

What range of credit scores are likely accepted for conventional loans? ›

Conventional loans require a credit score of at least 620 but can allow for down payments as low as 3%. Beth Buczynski is a lead assigning editor on the international expansion team at NerdWallet.

Why would I be denied a conventional loan? ›

Common reasons can include credit issues, insufficient income, high debt-to-income ratio, employment history concerns, or issues related to the property itself.

How often do conventional loans get denied? ›

A mortgage underwriter typically denies about 1 in 10 mortgage loan applications. A mortgage loan application can be denied for many reasons, including a borrower's low credit score, recent employment change or high debt-to-income ratio.

What is the minimum down payment for a conventional loan? ›

The minimum down payment requirement for a conventional loan is 3% of the loan amount. However, lenders may require borrowers with high DTI ratios or low credit scores to make a larger down payment. Even if it's not required, if you're able to make a higher down payment, you may want to consider doing so.

How long does it take to get approved for a conventional home loan? ›

From application to approval and closing, getting a mortgage can take anywhere from 30 days to 60 days. However, some home purchases can take longer, depending on factors unique to the purchase transaction and the home loan processing time.

Do you have to put 20% down on a conventional loan? ›

While you can qualify for a conforming conventional mortgage with a down payment of 5% or even 3%, you can expect a lender to want at least 20% down with a jumbo loan. Another difference between conforming and non-conforming conventional home loans is the interest rate.

What is the downside of a conventional loan? ›

Higher Closing Costs

As noted above, conventional loans tend to have lower closing costs (and be cheaper in general) than government-backed options. However, the downside of conventional loans is that they don't offer as much flexibility to help you avoid paying those costs upfront.

What is the debt to income ratio for a conventional loan? ›

Most conventional loans allow for a DTI ratio of no more than 45 percent, but some lenders will accept ratios as high as 50 percent if the borrower has compensating factors, such as a savings account with a balance equal to six months' worth of housing expenses.

What is the current maximum loan payment on a conventional loan? ›

$766,550 in most counties

Loan amount must be $766,550 or less in most counties and may be as high as $1,149,825 in high-cost counties.

What credit score is needed to buy a $400,000 house? ›

Your credit score has less bearing on your ability to get a mortgage than you might think. The minimum FICO score for a conventional loan is 620. The best rate comes with a score of 740 or higher. There is no particular advantage to having a score of 800, although it is, of course, laudable.

Which FICO score do mortgage lenders use? ›

The most commonly used FICO Score in the mortgage-lending industry is the FICO Score 5. According to FICO, the majority of lenders pull credit histories from all three major credit reporting agencies as they evaluate mortgage applications. Mortgage lenders may also use FICO Score 2 or FICO Score 4 in their decisions.

What credit score is needed to buy a house with no money down? ›

You'll usually need a credit score of at least 640 for the zero-down USDA loan program. VA loans with no money down usually require a minimum credit score of 580 to 620. Low-down-payment mortgages, including conforming loans and FHA loans, also require FICO scores of 580 to 620.

Is conventional harder than FHA? ›

It's generally easier to qualify for an FHA loan compared to a conventional loan. Depending on the size of the down payment, a borrower needs a credit score of either 500 or 580 to get an FHA loan. Conforming conventional loans require a score of at least 620.

Is it easier to get a conventional loan or FHA? ›

If you're a first-time buyer or someone with a weaker credit score, then an FHA mortgage loan can be easier to qualify for. However, if you can put 20% or more toward a down payment and want to look a bit stronger to prospective sellers, then a conventional loan may be your best bet,” says Channel.

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