Under VA guidance, which loans are considered Safe harbor qualified mortgages?

• A. FHA insured loans
• B. VA insured or guaranteed loans
• C. Conventional fixed-rate loans
• D. Jumbo loans

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that Safe Harbor Qualified Mortgages are loans that are protected from ATR challenges because they meet specific government-backed underwriting standards. Under VA guidance, loans that are insured or guaranteed by the VA have this Safe Harbor status. That backing from the VA provides a clear, established standard for repayment ability, so lenders can rely on it as meeting the required safeguards.

FHA-insured loans, conventional fixed-rate loans, and jumbo loans do not carry this same Safe Harbor designation under VA guidance, even though they may be QM or meet other underwriting criteria in different contexts. The VA-backed loan explicitly fits the Safe Harbor category, making it the correct choice.