How long you plan to stay
A fixed rate protects a long stay; an adjustable rate is built around a shorter horizon. Neither is right for everyone.
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Mortgage programs center
Find the Mortgage Strategy That Fits Your Goals
Ten plain-English guides. One side-by-side comparison.
Learn how each option handles down payments, credit, mortgage insurance, and risk. Then compare two or three side by side. No personal information required.
The guides
Ten options, explained plainly.
Each guide covers the same eight questions: who may qualify, how down payments work, credit and income, mortgage insurance or fees, advantages, limitations and risks, common misconceptions, and what to ask before choosing.
Loan types
Who backs or buys the loan, and the rules that come with it.
Conventional Mortgages
Not government-insured. Usually follows Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac guidelines.
Read the guide →FHA Loans
Insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Flexible credit standards.
Read the guide →VA Home Loans
Guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for eligible service members, veterans, and surviving spouses.
Read the guide →USDA Loans
Guaranteed by USDA Rural Development for eligible rural areas and incomes.
Read the guide →Rate structures
How the interest rate behaves over time. Pairs with a loan type.
Specialized financing
Options built for particular properties, incomes, or professions.
Renovation Financing: HomeStyle & FHA 203(k)
Finance the purchase (or refinance) and the renovation in one loan.
Read the guide → Varies by lenderSelf-Employed & Bank-Statement Financing
For business owners and 1099 earners whose tax returns don’t tell the whole story.
Read the guide → Varies by lenderMedical Professional Mortgage Programs
Programs some lenders design for physicians and certain other medical professionals.
Read the guide → Varies by lenderInvestment-Property & DSCR Financing
Financing for rental properties, from conventional investor loans to debt-service-coverage-ratio (DSCR) programs.
Read the guide →
How to think about choosing
Start with your goals, not a program name.
There’s no single best mortgage. The same program can be a great fit for one buyer and an expensive one for another. These six questions shape which options are worth comparing.
Cash now vs. payment later
A smaller down payment keeps savings intact but usually means mortgage insurance or fees and a larger loan.
How you’ll use the property
Primary residence, second home, or rental changes which programs are possible and what they require.
How your income is documented
W-2 pay, self-employment, contract income, or rental income each fit some programs better than others.
The property and its location
Condition, unit count, condo approval, county loan limits, and rural eligibility all matter.
Comfort with payment changes
Ask what the highest possible payment could be, and whether it would still fit your budget.
A useful habit: compare at least two options using the same price, down payment, and time horizon, and look at the total cost over the years you expect to keep the loan, not just the starting payment.
Interactive
Compare programs side by side.
Choose two or three programs to see down payments, credit, mortgage insurance or fees, occupancy, property types, and more in one view. Share the link to save your comparison.
Popular comparisons:
Educational comparison only. Not a recommendation or eligibility decision; actual eligibility, pricing, and terms require a full application and review.
Availability, terms, and eligibility for this program vary by lender and investor. Ask Shane whether Ease Mortgage currently offers this option for your situation.
Pick two or three programs aboveYour side-by-side comparison will appear here. Nothing you choose is saved or sent anywhere; the selection only lives in this page’s link.
FAQ
Choosing a mortgage, answered.
Have a question that isn’t here? Shane is happy to walk through your options.
Ask Shane a question →Which mortgage program is best?
There isn’t one best program for everyone. The right fit depends on your goals, how long you plan to stay, your cash available, your credit and income documentation, the property, and how you feel about payment changes. Compare options side by side, then review your real numbers with a loan officer.
Does the comparison tool tell me whether I qualify?
No. It’s educational only and doesn’t ask for income, credit, or other personal information. Actual eligibility, pricing, and terms require a full application and review.
What’s the difference between a loan type and a rate structure?
A loan type, such as conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA, sets the rules for down payment, credit, mortgage insurance, and property. A rate structure, fixed or adjustable, describes how the interest rate behaves over time. Most loans combine one of each, like an FHA 30-year fixed.
Can I combine programs?
Often, yes. Fixed and adjustable rates pair with most loan types, and renovation financing is built on FHA (203(k)) or conventional (HomeStyle) loans. Specialized programs set their own rules.
Does Ease Mortgage offer every program on this page?
Availability varies by lender and investor and can change. These guides explain how programs generally work; ask Shane which options Ease Mortgage currently offers for your situation.
How current is this information?
Each guide shows the date it was last reviewed and links to its sources. Program guidelines, limits, and fees change, so confirm current details before you decide.
Keep learning
Go deeper.
From offer to closing → Buy before you sell →
Homebuyers
Get Preapproved
What lenders review, what to gather, and a Mortgage-Ready Checklist.
Get ready → HomebuyersDown Payment & Closing Costs
What each loan type requires, plus a cash-to-close calculator.
Estimate your cash → HomebuyersFirst-Time Buyer Roadmap
Ten stages from dreaming to closing, with a saved checklist.
Read the roadmap → ToolsMortgage Calculators
Payment, cash to close, rent vs. buy, buydowns, and amortization tools.
Run the numbers →Sources
- CFPB: Understand the different kinds of loans available
- CFPB: Fixed-rate vs. adjustable-rate mortgages
- CFPB: Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (CHARM booklet)
- CFPB: Ability-to-Repay / Qualified Mortgage (ATR/QM) rule resources
- FHFA: Conforming loan limit values for 2026
- Fannie Mae Eligibility Matrix (maximum LTV by occupancy, units, and product; Aug. 5, 2026)
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.1-01: General requirements for credit scores
- HUD Handbook 4000.1: FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook (gifts, interested party contributions, secondary financing, MIP)
- HUD Mortgagee Letter 2023-05: FHA upfront and annual MIP (rates and duration)
- HUD: FHA mortgage limits lookup by county
- HUD: 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance program types
- VA: Purchase loan
- VA: Funding fee and closing costs (seller concessions limit)
- USDA Rural Development: Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program fact sheet (income, ratios, property, contributions)
- USDA: Property and income eligibility lookup
- USDA Rural Development: Fiscal Year 2027 Conditional Commitment Notice (1.00% upfront, 0.35% annual fee)
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B5-3.2-02: HomeStyle Renovation loan and borrower eligibility
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-3.2-01: Underwriting factors and documentation for a self-employed borrower
- Michigan Treasury: Principal Residence Exemption (PRE)
Important: This page is educational and general in nature. It isn’t a recommendation, a loan offer, a rate quote, a Loan Estimate, an approval, or a determination of eligibility. Program guidelines, limits, fees, and availability change and vary by lender and investor; actual eligibility, pricing, and terms require a full application and review. References to a program don’t mean Ease Mortgage currently offers it; ask Shane about current availability. Information was last reviewed November 9, 2026. Shane Thomas, Senior Loan Officer | Ease Mortgage, NMLS #444451. Ease Mortgage NMLS #2273319. Licensed in Michigan and Indiana. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Your next step
Let’s Compare Your Real Mortgage Options.
Every option on this page looks different with your real numbers. Start your secure application, or call Shane to compare the programs that may fit your goals.
Start Your Preapproval With Shane (opens in a new tab)Opens Shane’s secure online application in a new tab.
Call Shane at 586-260-2289
Email Shane
Shane ThomasSenior Loan Officer | Ease Mortgage
NMLS #444451
NMLS #444451