depends if you're planning to keep the house for 5 yrs or longer, also depens on location. if he/she is planning to sell the house in 5 yrs or so, go with 5 yr arm, its interest only paymetns, its fixed for first 5 yrs, and he can sell in in 5 yrs. if its for a long term, and he's all setteled then go for 30 yr fixed loan. the rest is just the basic math, how much down payment he can affort, and debt/income ration and his credit, goodluck