Buying a house can leave you feeling overwhelmed and under-informed.  Not only are you spending every waking hour searching for your perfect home,  you also have to think about how you're going to pay for it.  And when choosing a mortgage, it's important to find one that works with your budget now, and also 15- to 30-years down the road as well. Because the world of home financing can be a confusing one, let's take a look at two of the most popular loans in the housing market: Conventional and FHA.

Class is in session! It's time answer your mortgage questions. Questions about home loans can come from all kinds of home buyers. Whether it's your first home, or you're looking to upgrade as your family grows, the housing market can be daunting to even the most seasoned buyer. The housing bubble burst of 2007-2009 still has many folks a little gun shy. One mortgage question we hear from folks is "Where can my down payment come from?" 

You should not go broke buying a home. In fact, the best home loan should not put you in the poor house. The best home loan should also help you afford more than a shack.  

Since a rural development mortgage funds 100-percent of the appraised value of a home, a buyer doesn't have to have a down payment. Sounds pretty simple. There are several life-changing factors that could come with a mortgage loan like this. Think about what a zero-down payment mortgage would do for you!

What do you think of when you hear "USDA Rural Development?" Do you picture a big red barn and a long white fence with horses and lots of acres at hand? It's the wrong picture. In fact, USDA rural development is not for farmers. It's not a mortgage loan option for buying a farm. Let's look at what this loan program is for in today's housing market.

Can the USDA save the American housing market? Besides stamping the beef in America, the USDA has another project that affects many people (even vegetarians). There's an agency within the USDA called "The Office of Rural Development." Part of its mission is to improve the economy and quality of life in rural America.

FHA loans are one option for home buyers in today's market. In fact it's often a popular route for first time home buyers. One main reason for the desire to go FHA is the low down payment requirement. Home buyers need 3.5% of the purchase price as cash-on-hand for the down payment. This means if you're buying an $80,000 house you'll need less than $3,000 for the down payment.