Intro to Conventional Loans 

Conventional loans are mortgage loans other than those insured or guaranteed by a government agency such as the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), the VA (Veterans Administration), or the Rural Development Services (formerly know as Farmers Home Administration, or FmHA). Conventional loans are great if you can get them. They tend to have lower borrowing limits, so they may be an unrealistic option in many housing markets such as San Francisco and New York City.