the same documentation features are available under "subprime" guidelines, and similar ones may even be available under agency guidelines. alt-a and subprime differ in that, generally speaking, an alt-a borrower would have had a sufficient financial profile to qualify for a "conforming" mortgage, if only it weren't for one of the factors mentioned above, whereas a subprime borrower would suffer from exceptionally weak credit, income or asset characteristics. however, in cases where borrower, property and loan characteristics meet agency guidelines especially well, fannie's and freddie's automated preapproval systems generally grant reduced documentation features automatically at no extra cost. more expensive alt-a or subprime loans are not necessary for strong borrowers to expedite their applications.