CAR Media

UPDATE!

Government Announces Conforming Loan Limit Increases

The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) today announced it has temporarily increased limits on conforming loans offered by government-sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, from $417,000 to as high as $729,750 in fourteen counties in California for loans originated between July 1, 2007 and Dec. 31, 2008. Fannie and Freddie are reported to be working out new underwriting standards and expect to begin offering the new loans soon.

Also, on Wednesday, the government raised the conforming loan limit for mortgages guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration, and has begun offering the maximum limit of $729,750 for 14 California counties, up from $362,790, for loans originated between now and Dec. 31, 2008.

The Fed’s economic stimulus package approved earlier this year called for temporary increases on conforming and FHA loan limits to allow troubled borrowers to refinance out of sub-prime loans and make it easier for many new buyers to qualify for mortgages in high-cost areas, particularly in California where home prices remain among the highest in the nation.

To view a list of the new FHA Mortgage Limits by county, go to:

FHA Loan Limits by County

For a list of the proposed loan limit changes for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, go to:

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Proposed Loan Limit Changes