Buying your first home is such an exciting and important time of your life. It’s a big step in creating financial freedom for your future. First homes are often referred to as a “starter home” as people tend to live in the home for a shorter period of time and use the equity they gain from appreciation and paying down the mortgage towards buying their next home. [Read more…]
Options for Buying a Starter Home
January 22, 2025 by Leave a Comment
2025 Conforming Loan Limits for Washington State
November 26, 2024 by Leave a Comment
FHFA has announced the conforming loan limits for 2025.
- 1 Unit: $806,500
- 2 Unit: $1,032,650
- 3 Unit: $1,248,150
- 4 Unit: $1,551,250
High Balance Conforming Limits for King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties
- 1 Unit: $1,037,300
- 2 Unit: $1,327,950
- 3 Unit: $1,605,200
- 4 Unit: $1,994,850
Appraisal Waivers Expanded for Conforming Purchases
November 1, 2024 by Leave a Comment
The FHFA announced expanded guidelines for appraisal waiver increasing the maximum loan to value (LTV) from 80% to 90% on purchase transactions. An appraisal waiver is not guaranteed on all conforming mortgages. Loans are submitted to the automated underwriting systems for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, which determine whether or not a transaction will receive an appraisal waiver.
Possible eligible transactions include: [Read more…]
Fannie Mae’s March Forecast Stomps out 5% Mortgage Rates
March 21, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Fannie Mae released their monthly forecast for mortgage rates. The previous month, they received a lot of attention because of how rosy it was with rates forecasted to hit 5.9% by the end of this year with nearing the mid-5% range in 2025. The March forecast, which was released yesterday, is not as optimistic. [Read more…]
2024 Conforming Loan Limits for Homes in Washington State
November 28, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Conforming loan limits will be going up in 2024 across the country. Conforming high balance loan amounts for Washington state will remain unchanged from 2023.
Here are the 2024 conforming loan limits:
- 1 Unit: $766,550
- 2 Unit: $981,500
- 3 Unit: $1,186,350
- 4 Unit: $1,474,400
The following counties have “high balance” loan limits
King County, Pierce County and Snohomish County: [Read more…]
BREAKING NEWS: FHFA Rescinds the DTI Price Hit (LLPA)
May 10, 2023 by Leave a Comment
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced earlier today that it is rescinding the debt-to-income (DTI) loan level price hit adjustment (LLPA) that was announced in January of this year. Previously, people with a debt-to-income ratio higher than 40% with a loan-to-value greater than 60% would have an additional price hit to their interest rate. This price hit makes it even more challenging for someone who is pushing the DTI limit to remain under the 40% number to avoid having either a higher rate or paying more for the same rate because of the LLPA. The additional price hit for DTI ranged from 0.25%-0.375% depending on the loan to value/how much equity is in the transaction. On a $400,000 loan, this would be an additional cost of $1,000 to $1,500 if paid as “points” instead of having it priced into the interest rate. [Read more…]
Price Adjustments coming soon to Conforming Mortgages
January 24, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Last week, the FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Agency) announced changes to how conforming mortgages are priced with loan-level price adjustments (LLPAs). Some borrowers will find improved pricing where others will have to pay more in fees. The fees are typically incorporated into the interest rate for the mortgage.
From Fannie Mae’s Lender Letter dated January 19, 2023:
“We are implementing additional changes to our LLPA framework that represent the next step in our effort to increase support for borrowers historically underserved by the housing finance market…”.
2023 Conforming Loan Limits for Washington
November 29, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Conforming loan limits for 2023 are going up for homes located in Washington state.
- 1 Unit: $726,200
- 2 Unit: $929,850
- 3 Unit: $1,123,900
- 4 Unit: $1,396,800
The following counties have “high balance” loan limits: [Read more…]
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