What makes a Jumbo Loan?
A loan is considered a jumbo if it exceeds what is known as the conforming loan limit. The current conforming loan limit for a single-family home is $417,000 for all states except for Hawaii and Alaska, where it is $625,500.
However, if you live in a federally designated high-priced market, there are conforming high balance limits available for certain loan programs. These loans have higher interest rates and stricter underwriting requirements than standard conforming loans, but are generally priced lower than jumbo loans. Additionally, limits may be different for multi-unit properties.
What are your options?
A jumbo loan is one potential way to buy a high-priced home, but other options include:
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Increasing your down payment. This is the simplest option. If you can put more cash toward the down payment, you will borrow less. This could be especially helpful to you if the mortgage you are considering is only slightly above the conforming loan limit.
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Obtaining two mortgages. This is also called a Glossary Term: combination loan Information Panel. This option is more complex. It entails taking out a second, smaller mortgage at the same time as the first. By doing this, your first, larger mortgage would conform to the loan limit, and you may avoid some of the increased requirements and higher rates of a jumbo. However, the interest rate on a second mortgage is typically higher than on a first mortgage, so you’ll want to calculate the costs and potential savings carefully. In addition, if you took out two mortgages, you would be responsible for paying both of them each month. So you would need to be sure that you could manage the combined payment. Not everyone will be eligible or qualify for this loan option.
Rates
Our rates are extremely competitive, and in most cases, we are able to meet or beat many of our competitor’s interest rates out there! Please call or email us for rates!