FHA loans may be available that can help you turn your dreams into reality. First though, there are some things you need to understand about Federal Housing Authority loans that can help you make smart financial decisions. An FHA loan is designed to guard the interests of lenders against the potential of a loan default by the purchaser. The federal government assumes the risk of the loan and in most cases, offers the buyer more favorable loan terms with a higher dollar limit than he/she could otherwise qualify for. So, generally everyone wins.