Congress decided to keep the 2012 Conforming Limits at the existing 2008 levels instead of reverting to the higher “temporary” limits that we’ve experienced the past couple of years**.  In their infinite wisdom, Congress did restore the higher loan limits to FHA insured loans.  This means that in order to not have a jumbo loan in the greater Seattle area, your loan amount will need to be $506,000 and lower for conventional or $567,500 or lower for FHA insured mortgages.  I’ll be officially posting FHA insured loan limits soon.  

Four counties in Washington continue to have “high balance” loan limits above the “general” loan limits:

King County, Snohomish County and Pierce County:

• 1 Unit: $506,000
• 2 Unit: $647,750
• 3 Unit: $783,000
• 4 Unit: $973,100

San Juan County:

• 1 Unit: $483,000
• 2 Unit: $618,300
• 3 Unit: $747,400
• 4 Unit: $928,850

The remaining Washington counties have “general” loan limits:

Adams, Asotin, Bention, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Kittatas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Skagit, Skamania, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman and Yakima Counties:

• 1 Unit: $417,000
• 2 Unit: $533,850
• 3 Unit: $645,300
• 4 Unit: $801,950 

Loan amounts above the figures listed above are considered “jumbo” or “non-conforming”. 

**NOTE: Congress DID increase loan limits in one county in Connecticut for 2012.