The most common path to homeownership for borrowers with solid credit and a down payment ready.
A conventional loan is a mortgage that is not backed by a government agency. It typically requires a credit score of 620 or higher and a down payment as low as 3%. Conventional loans offer competitive rates and flexible terms, and are the most common path to homeownership for borrowers with solid credit and stable income.
We’ll review your credit profile, down payment, income, and home price so you can see whether a conventional loan gives you flexibility, competitive pricing, and a path that makes sense for your goals.
We'll look at credit, income, debt, and down payment so you know whether a conventional loan is the right fit.
From 30-year to 15-year options, we'll compare payment structure, rates, and long-term cost.
We'll show when PMI applies, how much it may cost, and when you can expect it to end.
We'll compare interest rate, loan term, fees, and monthly payment so you can decide with confidence.
People consistently say the same things: it finally felt straightforward, they understood their options, and they weren’t treated like a number.
Just completed our refinance and it was a breeze! Megan and Jacquie are an amazing team! They are smart, hardworking, caring and knowledgeable!…
Olga G.
I had a truly wonderful experience working with HappyDog. From the very beginning, the team was professional, helpful, and prompt in guiding me through…
Jenny U.
If I could give Marci and Tori 10 stars I would! They were so friendly and easy to talk to. You can tell they enjoy helping people and that’s what makes them so good at their job!
RyAnn G.
Mike McKee, excellent service. His patience helped me to walk through the homebuying process with ease. He was available whenever I contacted him…
Althea O.
Great experience overall! Jason always kept us up to date and communicated regularly and is very good about replying quickly to questions.
AD A.
OMG!!! Mike Mckee is phenomenal…I worked with him for almost 2yrs..I had lots of issues prior to opening and he continued to reach out to me and stay in contact…
Valerie S.
HappyDog was easy to work with and highly responsive during our escrow process. I highly recommend them.
Taylor M.
Mike McKee’s professionalism and efficiency are truly impressive. He seamlessly guides clients through the lending process with his expertise…
Edward K.
Tori was amazing! She was providing several options for our budget for us to review and explained pros and cons with each option…
Rio B.
We can’t say thank you enough to vinnie, Lisa, and the whole team at happydog home loans! They made the whole process simple and straight forward…
Mariah H.
We had an absolutely amazing experience working with Happy Dog Lending while buying our first home! As first-time buyers, we had a lot of questions…
Ursula T.
Great response time, easy formatting and uploading documents. Always kind in our interactions VERY patient…
David B.
Conventional loans work for most borrowers. Here’s what you should know.
As little as 3%. You don’t need 20% down to buy a home. If you put down less than 20%, you’ll pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) until you’ve paid off 20% of the mortgage. Once you hit 20% equity, that PMI goes away, usually within 5 to 10 years depending on your loan.
A minimum of 620. Conventional loans reward borrowers with better credit, offering lower interest rates as your score goes up. If you’re below 620, FHA or other programs might work better.
Conventional has a higher credit requirement (620 vs. 580 for FHA) but offers lower rates and the option to avoid mortgage insurance at 20% down. FHA has more lenient credit but charges mortgage insurance regardless of down payment. We’ll show you both and explain the trade-offs.
You don’t necessarily need to refinance. Many conventional loans allow automatic PMI removal once you reach 20% equity. Check your loan docs or ask us, we can walk through your options.
Typically 14 to 21 days from contract to keys. Our streamlined process and dedicated loan officer keep things moving without cutting corners on transparency.
Ready to explore your options? Get a free, personalized rate quote. Takes less than a minute and tells you exactly where you stand. ChooseHappy
