What is true about non-conforming loans?

Non-conforming loans are those that do not meet the guidelines set by government-sponsored entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for conventional loans. As a result, these types of loans often do not adhere to specific standards regarding loan amount, borrower credit, and property type. Since they do not conform to these established requirements, they are typically riskier and are therefore retained in the lender's portfolio rather than sold into the secondary market.

Keeping non-conforming loans in the lender's portfolio allows the institution to manage the risk associated with these loans directly, as they may have unique terms or higher loan amounts that are not typically backed by government guarantees. This retention also enables lenders to offer more flexible lending options to borrowers who do not fit the typical profile for more conventional financing.

The other options suggest processes or guarantees that do not apply to non-conforming loans—these loans do not automatically qualify for government guarantees and cannot simply be transferred to the federal government, nor must they be sold to secondary market entities since the lender often chooses to retain them instead.