Our friends in Washington seem to think raising conforming loans to $625,000 and up is a way to handle the current "crisis". I am not convinced. The conforming amount for Martha's Vineyard will probably be $700,000. The fixed rate will end up below 6% maybe as low as 5.25% before all is said and done. Stopping at some half-way amount say $550,000 and then going to a HELOC for the balance on an individual basis might be better for certain individuals. With the HELOC rate dropping faster than we can keep up with, I for one would be willing to take the chance in the short term. Of course I am a risk taker.