CONVENTIONAL LOANS

Conventional Loans are secured by government sponsored entities or GSE's such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or by private investors for loan amounts higher than the limits set by the GSE's. Conventional loans can be made to purchase or refinance homes with first and second mortgages on single family to four family homes. In general, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's single family, first mortgage loan limit is $300,700 in 2002. This limit is reviewed annually and, if needed, changed to reflect changes in the national average price for single family homes. The current loan limit applies to all conventional mortgages delivered after January 1, 2002. 2002 Conventional Loan Limits First mortgages One Family loans: $322,700 Two Family loans: $384,900 Three Family loans: $465,200 Four Family loans: $578,150 Note: One to four family mortgages in Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are 50 percent higher than the limits for the rest of the country. Second Mortgages $150,350 (in Alaska, Hawaii, and the US Virgin Islands: $225,525) Loans which are larger than the limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are called jumbo loans.. Because jumbo loans are not funded by these government sponsored entities, they usually carry a higher interest rate and some additional underwriting requirements. A strategy to lower your overall interest payments if your purchase or refinance balance is above $300,700 is to use a combination of both first and second trust money, referred to as an 80/10/10, 80/15/5 or 80/20. Every situation is different, but it is one more option to consider. In addition to common loan structures such as fixed rate, adjustable rate and balloon loans, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also have loan programs for low to no down payments, community lending and affordable housing initiatives, construction to permanent, home improvement and reverse mortgages.