• The government can hep you with a mortgage.house image by Michael Shake from Fotolia.com
  
  The government has programs to assist current home owners as well as potential borrowers with financing, loan guarantees, loan insurance, foreclosure avoidance and other mortgage expenses. Each program has its own qualification requirements but is generally made accessible to people without the traditional resources to finance or keep a home.
  
  

Federal Housing Administration

• The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) provides borrowers with government-insured loans and down payment assistance that can help them qualify for financing and refinancing through various lenders. Since the loans are backed by the federal government, lenders incur less risk and are able to provide loans to more borrowers.
  
  

Making Home Affordable

• The Making Home Affordable program was created in 2009 to assist homeowners who have difficulty making mortgage payments or are facing foreclosure. This federal programs provides first and second mortgage loan modifications, as well as foreclosure alternatives and refinancing help. The program is geared towards homeowners who face difficulties due to job loss, divorce, death of a spouse and other financial hardships that have decreased income.
  
  

Veterans Administration

• The Veterans Administration guarantees mortgages and refinancing loans for people who have served in the armed forces. Lenders are more apt to approve VA loan applications, even if the borrower has with sub-standard credit history, because the federal government guarantees payment in the case of borrower default.
  
  

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

• The Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, more commonly known as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, respectively, are government-sponsored enterprises that buy loans from lenders and guarantee payment in the case of default. Although they were put into federal conservatorship, or control, in 2008, the companies are actually publicly traded, for-profit companies that were created by the government to assist in freeing up capital so lenders can offer more loans. This encourages lending to people without perfect credit and increases the rate of home ownership.
  
  

Department of Agriculture

• The Department of Agriculture has various Rural Housing and Community Facilities Programs that provide direct loans, loan guarantees and rental assistance for people living in rural areas. In addition, the Department of Agriculture has rural homes and farm land for sale at discounted prices. There is also a program to help rural homeowners with necessary renovations and repairs.