Comments on: 2009 FHA Loan Limits for Seattle-Bellevue and Beyond

By: Rhonda Porter

Rhonda Porter — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:47:54 +0000

Looks like we may be able to lock in the higher loan limits for FHA Jumbo until December 31, 2008. This timeline is from one of the lenders I work with:

FHA High Loan Limits

November 14, 2008: New 2009 FHA loan limits available
December 31, 2008: Last day to lock FHA Jumbo
December 31, 2008: Final approval date for 2008 limits
January 1, 2009: New LTV and down payment requirements effective with new case numbers
February 13, 2009: Last day to purchase FHA Jumbo with 2008 limits

By: Rhonda Porter

Rhonda Porter — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:45:49 +0000

Hi Dave, you were so excited, it looks like you posted the link twice. LOL.

You’re correct that I don’t have all the counties listed here for FHA limits–I purposely only did the tri-county area. At the time, when I posted this, I was going off of the HUD announcement and FHA had not yet issued their mortgagee letter. Plus, I do focus more on the Seattle/Bellevue metro area here at RCG.

Blogging is fun. I hope you enjoy it. I’m just returning from teaching a RE office how to blog in Lynnwood. And did a conference call w/70+ LO’s yesterday. Good luck and have fun.

By: Dave Andrews

Dave Andrews — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:19:22 +0000

Sorry, I got sooo excited I missed typed the link – try this (cut & paste…ugh!) – https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm

By: Dave Andrews

Dave Andrews — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:14:23 +0000

Hello Rhonda,
I’m in Gig Harbor with clients up and down the peninsula. When I received my notice of loan limits, I noticed a few counties over here were missing. Here’s the link on the HUD website that can direct someone out of the Puget Sound area: https://entp.hud.gove/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm
Type in state, county, and towards the bottom you have a choice of 2008 or 2009 limits. I thought this might help.
I was at a blogging training with Ardell yesterday, she’s got me hooked.

By: Rhonda Porter

Rhonda Porter — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:12:21 +0000

Paul, how is Tucson?

By: Paul Dunn

Paul Dunn — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:50:18 +0000

I would love to see 500K FHA loan limits for Tucson…

By: Rhonda Porter

Rhonda Porter — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:05:17 +0000

Ardell, actually I’m not certain that this is the new FHA loan limit for our area and if the “FHA Jumbo” is being eliminated. I’m waiting for more information. The 2008 FHA jumbo loan limits were “temporary” to help stimulate the economy.

Here is the Mortgagee Letter regarding the 2009 FHA loan limits: http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/letters/mortgagee/files/08-36ml.doc

I’m reading this as no more FHA jumbo–just FHA loan limit–but that’s just my interpretation.

By: ARDELL

ARDELL — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:02:12 +0000

Got it. Maybe you can slide the word jumbo into the post Title.

By: Rhonda Porter

Rhonda Porter — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:08:14 +0000

Ardell, the conforming loan limit is still $417,000. Conforming Jumbo/High-Balance will be limited to $500,600 for 2009 (probably effective before mid December when Fannie Mae’s DU 7.1 is in effect).

Conforming for 2008 and 2009 will remain at $417,000.

The conforming-jumbo/high-balance loan limit will be reduced from $567,500 to $500,600 in the tri-county area. Loans over $500,600 are “true jumbo”.

By: ARDELL

ARDELL — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:14:33 +0000

Still seems odd to me that the conforming limit could be equal to the new Jumbo. In essence, doesn’t that mean that there is no longer a Jumbo? That they blended the two into one program at a mid-point value? What am I missing?