{"id":2743,"date":"2017-12-08T11:16:08","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T16:16:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/?p=2743"},"modified":"2018-11-27T14:48:17","modified_gmt":"2018-11-27T19:48:17","slug":"2018-conforming-loan-limits-and-fha-loan-limits-increased","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/2018-conforming-loan-limits-and-fha-loan-limits-increased\/","title":{"rendered":"2018 Conforming Loan Limits and FHA Loan Limits Increased"},"content":{"rendered":"

On November 28, 2017, it was announced by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, that for 2018 the baseline loan limit for conforming loans will increase from $424,100 to $453,100. This is due to raising house prices and real estate appreciation. According to the FHFA, from the third quarter of 2016 to the third quarter of 2017, home prices have increased at an average of 6.8%. Therefore, conforming loan limits have increased by 6.8%.<\/p>\n

Related: 2019 Conventional Loan Limits in Michigan<\/a><\/p>\n

How are Conforming Loan Limits Calculated?<\/h2>\n

The new Conventional Loan Limit<\/a> does not apply to all areas of the United States. There are certain areas in the country that are considered to be high cost, such as Alaska and areas of California. In order for these areas to be deemed as high cost, 115% of the local median home value must exceed the baseline loan limit. In these areas, the baseline loan limit will increase by 150%. This makes the maximum loan limit for these areas $679,650, which was increased from $636,150. A map of the U.S. counties and their maximum loan limits can be found here<\/a>.\u00a0 There are no counties in Michigan that are considered to be a high cost area.<\/p>\n

2018 FHA Loan Limits Increased<\/h1>\n

Staring January 1st 2018 FHA Loan Limits<\/a> have increased its floor to $294,515 from $275,665. This means that buyers can purchase a home of $305,196 with the minimum down payment and still get an FHA loan. In high cost areas,\u00a0FHA’s loan limit ceiling will increase to $679,650 from the current level of $636,150. In high cost areas, home buyer can purchase a home up to $704,300 and still use the minimum FHA loan down payment of 3.5%.<\/p>\n

Do Other Loan Options Have Loan Limits?<\/h2>\n

USDA and VA loans do not have their own loan limit like FHA. These loan programs utilize Conventional loan limits set by the FHFA. VA may also allow larger loan amounts up to $1,500,000 if the borrower pays the funding fee at the closing over the 453,100 limit.<\/p>\n

What if the Loan Size I Need Is Larger than the Loan Limits?<\/h3>\n

If the loan amount needed exceeds these limits then an option for you would be a non-conforming loan called a jumbo loan. These non-conforming loans follow a different set of guidelines and rates than conforming loans. For 2018, jumbo loans will be for loans that exceed $453,100. Riverbank Finance is also able to help with jumbo loans!<\/p>\n

Jumbo Mortgage Loan limits<\/h2>\n

For loans over the conforming limit of $453,100, we are able to offer jumbo loans. Current Jumbo loan limits<\/a> at Riverbank are set at 3 million dollars. The purchase price of a property can be above this limit however the buyer would need to pay cash for the difference. Our Jumbo loans options include 40 Year Interest Only Loans, 30 Year Fixed Rate Loans, 15 Year Fixed Rate Loans and Adjustable Rate Mortgages.<\/p>\n

What are the Benefits of Conventional Loan Limit Increases?<\/h2>\n

Loan limits increasing is beneficial to clients as house prices rises because conventional\/conforming loans offer the best rates. Higher loan limits allow borrowers to finance higher amount at low fixed rates. Jumbo loans typically do not offer as low of rates as conventional loans do which may be less attractive. Clients will have a wider range of houses they can get financed with a conventional loan. With our 97% Conventional Mortgages, a home buyer could purchase up to a $439,507 home with the minimum 3% down payment. For buyers that plan on utilizing a 20% down payment to avoid PMI, they can not purchase a home for up to $566,375 with 80% financing on a conventional loan.<\/p>\n

To confirm the maximum loan amount you qualify for call a Riverbank Loan officer today at 800-555-2098 or request information below!<\/p>\n\n

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