
A conventional home loan is a mortgage which is not guaranteed by a government agency such as the Veterans Administration (VA) or Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in the United States. Conventional home loans also have several other characteristics which set them apart
from other types of home
loans. The amount of loans on the market which are considered conventional mortgages can vary at any given time; usually, at least one quarter of residential home loans are conventional home loans.
Classically, a conventional home loan has a fixed rate and term, which may be 15 or 30 years. Although adjustable rate mortgages sometimes meet the standard to be considered a conventional home loan, many lenders specifically associate conventional home loans with fixed rates. When the mortgage is issued, no more than 75% of the assessed value of the home can be financed. The loan is also usually not assumable.