A government-backed loan is a loan subsidized by the government, which protects lenders against defaults on payments, thus making it a lot easier for lenders to offer potential borrowers lower interest rates. Its primary aim is to make home ownership affordable to lower income households and first-time buyers.
There are numerous types of government-backed loans, which vary dependent on the country and status of the borrower. Arguably, the most widely known type of government-backed loan is the US Federal Housing Administration FHA loan, in existence since 1934.
Other types of government-backed loans include the following:
References
Government-backed loan Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA