Conforming loans are loans that conform to the rules and guidelines of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These are the secondary market makers that buy your loan from your loan brokers, bankers, lenders. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac makes it possible for the cash to circulate and for you to borrow at a lower interest rate. Your lenders like conforming loans because they can sell the loan and free up their cash to make additional loans.
Every November, the Federal Housing Finance Agency reviews the market of two consecutive Octobers and determine how they will adjust the maximum conforming amount. The announcement has been made!
In most of the US, the baseline max conforming loan limit will increase from $484,350 in 2018 to $453,100 in 2019. That is a 6.5% increase. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the house prices increased about 6.9% 2017 and 2018 (3rd quarter comparison).
For high cost areas where local median home value exceeds the old baseline loan amount of $484,350, the maximum loan limit will be higher by 150%. For 2019, the new amount is $726,525. “As a result of generally rising home values, the increase in the baseline loan limit, and the increase in the ceiling loan limit, the maximum conforming loan limit will be higher in 2019 in all but 47 counties or county equivalents in the U.S.,” the FHFA said.
This shows that the real estate market is still strong. It's a good time to buy.
Contact me to help you with the process so I can help you achieve your real estate goal.
Yon Chung, CPA, Realtor is a full time real estate agent based in McLean, Virginia (Capital Area Homes | Keller Williams Realty). She personally invests in real estate around Northern Virginia and out of state. Yon Chung serves sellers and buyers of primary homes and investment properties in Fairfax County.