In 1937, under an act of Congress, the Federal Housing Administration was established to provide American families with a unique opportunity to become homeowners. Before that, a home buyer's options were limited only to short term loans ranging from one to five years in term. Borrowers had to put as much as 40% to 50% down on the property and pay off the entire loan balance by the end of the term. FHA revolutionized the mortgage industry at the time by offering the 30-year mo