Home / Loan Programs / Conventional Loans
The default, done rightThe loan most buyers should price first.
Conventional financing follows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, and for borrowers with reasonable credit it is usually the cheapest money on the table. It also has the widest lender competition of any product — which is exactly where a broker earns their fee.
No SSN. No credit pull. Carl Mataushek, NMLS #1945717.
Why conventional is the benchmark
Because these loans conform to agency guidelines, nearly every wholesale lender offers them — and they compete on price. That competition is the whole reason to shop the loan rather than accept the first quote. On a plain conventional file the spread between lenders is modest but real, and it compounds over thirty years.
- 3% down for qualified first-time buyers, 5% for most repeat buyers.
- Mortgage insurance cancels — the defining advantage over FHA.
- Loan amounts up to the conforming limit before jumbo rules apply.
- Flexible property types, including second homes and investment purchases.
Where conventional stops making sense
Guidelines are guidelines. If your credit is rebuilding, your debt-to-income is stretched, or your income is self-employed and understated on paper, the conventional box will not close around you — and forcing it wastes weeks. That is why FHA, bank statement programs and non-QM exist. Knowing which door to knock on first is most of the job.
Buying in West Orange County
Most Winter Garden and Horizon West purchases in this range are new construction or recent resale, which underwrites cleanly. Watch two Florida-specific items: the insurance quote, which moves your qualifying ratio more than buyers expect, and HOA or CDD assessments in the newer communities, which count against you the same way a car payment does. Carl builds both into the numbers up front so your pre-approval survives contact with a real contract.
Conventional Loans — straight answers
Do I really need 20% down for a conventional loan?
No — and that myth costs people years of renting. Conventional programs go to 3% down for qualified first-time buyers and 5% for most others. Below 20% you pay private mortgage insurance, but unlike FHA it is temporary.
When does the mortgage insurance come off?
You can request cancellation once the balance reaches 80% of the original value, and it terminates automatically at 78%. Appreciation counts too: if values have moved, a new appraisal can get you there sooner. Carl maps that exit before you close, not after.
What credit score do I need?
620 is the common floor, but pricing improves in tiers as you climb — the jump from 680 to 740 is worth real money monthly. If you sit just under a tier boundary it is often worth a few weeks of targeted work first, and Carl will say so rather than just closing the loan.
Conventional or FHA?
With solid credit, conventional usually wins because the mortgage insurance ends. With thinner credit or a heavier debt load, FHA is often the only approval — and it opens the 203(k) renovation structure. Carl runs both and shows the actual monthly difference.
Let's see what you qualify for.
Tell Carl where you're at and he'll come back with what's actually possible — usually the same day.
- No SSN and no credit pull at this stage
- Carl calls or texts you back personally — usually same day
- 14 states licensed · NMLS #1945717
Prefer to talk first? (321) 229-8084
Got it — that's on Carl's phone already.
He reviews every one personally and will reach out shortly. If it's urgent, call or text (321) 229-8084.
Ready for the full application?
If you already know what you want and would rather get straight into it, you can start the formal application now instead of waiting for Carl to call.
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