BREAKING NEWS: Conforming Loan Limits INCREASED for 2017

MortgageConforming loan limits have been increased for 2017.  The last time conforming loan limits were raised was in 2006. Conforming loan limits for the last ten years for a single family dwelling have been limited to $417,000, unless the home was located in a county with a high balance conforming loan limit. High balance conforming loan limits for the greater Seattle area have been raised as well to $592,250 for a single family dwelling. [Read more…]

Fannie Mae’s HomeReady Mortgage

2013-03-07_0746The HomeReady Mortgage is a mortgage program created by Fannie Mae intended to help low-to-moderate income borrowers with good credit buy or refinance a home.

Here are more details about the HomeReady Mortgage:

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2016 Conforming Loan Limits for Washington State Mortgages

MortgageConforming loan limits for homes in King County, Snohomish County and Pierce County received a boost with the high balance conforming loan limits of $23,000 for single family dwellings.

All other counties in Washington state will have 2015 conforming loan limits.

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High Balance Conforming Mortgages to Reduce Down Payment Requirements

iStock-000018668640XSmallFannie Mae has announced that effective mid-December 2015, high-balance conforming mortgages will have lower down payment requirements. “high balance conforming” mortgages are loan amounts that are higher than “traditional” conforming loan limits ($417,000) and less than non-conforming mortgages and are available only in certain counties that are considered to be “higher cost”. In Washington State, currently (2015) King County, Snohomish County, Pierce County and San Juan County have “high balance conforming” loan limits. The high balance conforming loan limit for King, Snohomish and Pierce County is presently $517,500 for a single family dwelling.

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Freddie Mac reports Mortgage Rates remain under 4

Yesterday, Freddie Mac’s PMMS shared that last weeks average conforming rates continue to be under 4.000%.  Last week, according to Freddie Mac’s survey, the average rate for a 30 year fixed conforming (FRM) mortgage was 3.93% priced with 0.6 points.

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Fannie Mae offering Home Buyer Incentives

mortgageporterraiseFannie Mae is offering first time home buyers up to 3% towards closing cost when they purchase a Fannie Mae HomePath property. On a $300,000 home, 3% would be up to $9,000 towards allowable closing cost!  A Fannie Mae HomePath property is a home that Fannie Mae has foreclosed on and now owns.

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How will Fannie Mae’s Collateral Underwriter (CU) impact appraisals?

detctiveOver this weekend (April 18, 2015), Fannie Mae will be releasing the highly anticipated “Collateral Underwriter” (aka CU) to lenders. CU is intended to be a tool for lenders to use to help ensure the quality of appraisals on loans that originated as conventional/Fannie Mae. Fannie Mae’s tagline for CU is “Taking appraisal review to the next level”…many in the industry, from lenders, real estate brokers and appraisers, are a bit anxious over this new “tool”.

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Freddie Mac report reveals lowest mortgage rates of 2014

Every week, Freddie Mac releases their Prime Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) based on a survey a mix of 125 lenders on what committed mortgage rates and points were during the previous week. Based on Freddie Mac’s report, the average rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage averaged 3.80 percent with an average 0.6 points. This is down from last week when it averaged 3.93 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year averaged 4.47 percent.

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