Conforming loan limits increase to $548,250 for most areas
Conforming loan limits are on the rise.
Home buyers in most of the U.S. can now get a conforming loan up to $548,250 with just 3% down.
And the single-family loan limit is over $822,000 in high-cost areas.
Multifamily home buyers get a nice increase in
buying power, too, with limits for 2-4-unit properties topping $1 million in
some areas.
On top of this, we’re seeing ultra-low interest rates carry over from 2020 into 2021.
Put all it together, and you get incredible
purchase and refinance opportunities for home buyers and homeowners alike.
Check today’s conforming mortgage rates (Jan 24th, 2021)
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Freddie Mac and
Fannie Mae loan limits for 2021
Lending limits for conventional loans got a nice boost this year.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) determined home prices are up 7.42% on average across the nation.
It raised
conforming loan limits by the same percentage — a dollar increase of almost
$38,000 for the standard one-unit home. Multi-unit
properties got a similar boost.
Baseline conforming loan limits
Standard loan limits for 2021, which apply in most of the United States, are as follows:
- 1-unit homes: $548,250
- 2-unit homes: $702,000
- 3-unit homes: $848,500
- 4-unit homes: $1,054,500
Keep
in mind that these are only “standard” limits. In areas with high-cost real estate, buyers get significantly higher mortgage limits.
Maximum conforming loan limits
High-balance
conforming loan limits vary by county. They can fall within the following
ranges:
- 1-unit homes: $548,250–$822,375
- 2-unit homes: $702,000–$1,053,000
- 3-unit homes: $848,500–$1,272,750
- 4-unit homes: $1,054,500–$1,581,750
Areas
such as Alameda County, California, Arlington, Virginia, and Jackson, Wyoming enjoy the maximum conforming loan limits, while cities like Seattle, Washington and
Baltimore, Maryland fall between the “floor” and the “ceiling.”
In
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands — which follow their own loan
limit rules — the baseline loan limit for 2021 is $822,375 for a one-unit
property.
Verify your home buying eligibility (Jan 24th, 2021)
Conforming
loan limits by county for 2021
What is a
mortgage loan limit?
A loan
limit is the maximum amount you can borrow
under certain mortgage programs.
There
is not just one loan limit, but many. Conventional mortgages adhere to one set
of loan limits, and FHA another.
VA loans did away with limits altogether in 2020.
In the world of conforming loans, Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac limit “borrowable” amounts to keep their nationwide programs available to
those who need them.
For instance, Fannie Mae doesn’t want a $10 million loan
going through its system. That’s a lot of risk wrapped up in one
transaction, and the agency would rather issue many smaller loans to more home
buyers.
Fortunately,
loan limits are on the rise in 2021 to reflect rising
home prices across the country.
What
is a conforming loan?
A conforming loan is any mortgage that:
- Has a loan amount within local conforming loan limits
- Meets lending guidelines set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Mortgages within conforming loan limits are eligible to be backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as long as the borrower meets basic criteria for credit score, income, down payment, and debt levels.
Conforming loans typically require:
- A credit score of at least 620
- A debt-to-income ratio below 43%
- A down payment of at least 3%
- Two-year history of stable employment and income
Exact conforming loan requirements
can vary by lender, but they all have to meet the minimum guidelines set by
Fannie and Freddie.
These
standards give lenders and investors more
confidence in these loans.
As a result, conforming loans are available with ultra-low mortgage rates and just 3% down payment.
Check today’s conforming mortgage rates (Jan 24th, 2021)
What if my
loan is over the conforming limit?
Remember
that the conforming loan limit applies to the loan amount, not the home price.
For
instance, say a buyer is purchasing a 1-unit home in Boulder, Colorado where
the limit is $654,350. The home price is $1 million, and the buyer is
putting $450,000 down.
This
buyer is eligible for a conforming loan. The final loan amount is
$550,000 — well within limits for the area.
Still,
many applicants will need financing above their local loan limit. For
them, a number of solutions exist.
Jumbo loans
The
simplest method is to use a jumbo loan. Jumbo mortgages describe any home loan
above local conforming limits.
Using
the example above, let’s say the Boulder, CO home buyer puts down $200,000 on a
$1 million home. In this case, their loan amount would be $800,000 — far above
the local conforming loan limit of $654,350. This buyer would need to finance
their home purchase with a jumbo loan.
You might think jumbo mortgages would have higher interest rates, but that’s not always the case.
Jumbo loan rates are often near or even below conventional mortgage rates.
The
catch? It’s harder to qualify for jumbo financing. You’ll likely need a credit
score above 700 and a down payment of at least 10-20%.
If
you put down less than 20% on a jumbo home purchase, you’ll also have to pay
for private mortgage insurance (PMI). This would increase your monthly payments
and overall loan cost.
The
next method helps you avoid PMI when buying above conforming loan limits.
Verify your jumbo loan eligibility (Jan 24th, 2021)
Piggyback financing for high-priced homes
Perhaps the most cost-effective method is to choose a piggyback loan. The piggyback or “80/10/10” loan is a type of financing in which a first and second mortgage are opened at the same time.
Typically, this structure is used to avoid private mortgage insurance.
A buyer can get an 80 percent first mortgage, 10 percent second mortgage (typically a home equity line of credit), and put 10 percent down.
However,
these loans are also available for those putting 20 percent down or more. Here’s how
it would work.
- Home price: $700,000
- Down payment: $140,000 (20%)
- Financing needed: $560,000
- Local conforming limit: $548,250
The
buyer could structure his or her loan as follows.
- Down payment: $140,000
- 1st mortgage: $548,000
- 2nd mortgage: $12,000
The
home is purchased with a conforming loan and a small second mortgage. The first
mortgage may come with better terms than a jumbo loan, and the second mortgage
offers a great rate, too.
Verify your piggyback loan eligibility (Jan 24th, 2021)
What’s the jumbo loan limit for 2021?
Technically there’s no jumbo loan limit for 2021.
Since jumbo mortgages are above the conforming loan limit,
they’re considered “non-conforming” and are not eligible for lenders to assign
to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac upon closing.
That means the lenders offering jumbo loans are free to set
their own criteria, including loan limits.
For example, one lender might set its jumbo loan limit at $2
million, while another might set no limit at all and be willing to finance
homes worth tens of millions.
But the amount you can borrow via a jumbo or
non-conforming loan is limited by your finances.
You need enough income to make the monthly mortgage payments on your new home. And your debt-to-income ratio (including your future mortgage payment) can’t exceed the lender’s maximum.
You can use a mortgagecalculator to estimate the maximum home price you can likely afford. Or contact a mortgage lender to get a more accurate number.
What if I’m
getting an FHA loan?
FHA loans come with their own loan limits. Standard FHA limits for 2021 are as listed below.
- 1-unit homes: $356,362
- 2-unit homes: $456,275
- 3-unit homes: $551,500
- 4-unit homes: $685,400
You
might notice that FHA’s limits are considerably lower than conforming limits.
That’s by design.
The FHA program, backed by the Federal Housing Administration, is meant for home buyers with moderate incomes and credit scores.
But
the FHA also suits home buyers in expensive counties. Single-family FHA loan limits reach $822,375
in high-cost areas within the continental U.S. and a
surprising $1,233,550 for a 1-unit home in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, or the Virgin Islands.
What are
today’s mortgage rates for these loan limits?
Mortgage
rates for conforming loans are stellar, which is why so many buyers consider a
conforming loan before using jumbo financing.
Get
a rate quote for your standard or extended-limit conforming loan. Compare to
jumbo rates and piggyback mortgage rates to make sure you’re getting the best
value.
Verify your new rate (Jan 24th, 2021)
Source: themortgagereports.com