There is no guarantee that the rates on jumbo-conforming loans will be low enough to attract borrowers. Rates will be set by the market; not the government, not the banks. I believe the most likely outcome will be premium price add-on to jumbo-conforming mortgage rates so rates end up somewhere between conforming loan rates and jumbo mortgage rates. Depending on the median cost of houses in each metro area, the jumbo-conforming limit can be as high as $729,750.
Fannie Mae's Guidelines for Jumbo-Conforming Loans:
Jumbo-conforming mortgages have stricter loan-to-value (LTV) limits. For the purchase of your principal home, your LTV is 90 percent of the home's value when you finance with a fixed-rate mortgage, and 80 percent LTV for an adjustable-rate mortgage.
If you're refinancing into a Jumbo-conforming mortgage, your LTV is 75 percent of the home's appraised value. The combined amount of all mortgages, including home-equity debt, can't exceed 95 percent of the appraised value. The LTV ratios for refinances apply to both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages.
There is only a "limited cash-out refinance." This means that you can only borrow a little bit more than your current balance to pay closing costs or borrow a round number (i.e., borrow $740,000 instead of $738,040). You will not be able to do a cash-out refi to pay off a home-equity loan or home-equity line of credit, or to walk away from the closing table with a check for more than $2,000.
The minimum credit score for a Jumbo-conforming mortgage is 660 or higher. If you are going to borrower more that 80 percent of the home's price, the minimum credit score is 700.
For second homes and investment properties, the maximum LTV is 60 percent with a minimum credit score of 660.
Only a one-unit single-family house, condominium or PUDs are eligible. All multi-unit properties are not eligible for Jumbo-conforming mortgage financing.
For refinancing with a Jumbo-conforming mortgage, if you have a home-equity loan or home-equity line of credit, the second-lien holder must agree to subordinate and remain in the second lien position. If they refuse to subordinate to remain in the second-lien position, the borrower will either be forced to pay off their home-equity debt or forgo refinancing.
You can't have had any late mortgage payments in the last 12 months. A late payment is defined as being reported 30 days or more late to the credit agencies.
The debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is maxed at 45%. This means if you have a gross income of $200,000 a year, the total debt payments can't exceed 45% of $200,000, or $90,000. All ARMs are qualified based on the fully indexed rate.
All Jumbo-conforming mortgages will be fully documented. Also, appraisals will be a full walk through.
If the LTV exceeds 80 percent, you have to buy mortgage insurance (MI).
Construction-to-permanent financing is not allowed with jumbo-conforming financing.
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Alan 'AJ' Nisen California Contra Costa Mortgage Officer
Lafayette, CA
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AJ, as part of the Active Rain family, uses this forum to discuss issues that affect the Real Estate market, all aspects of Mortgages, Loans and refinancing, to build working relationships and friendships. AJ’s conversations include such topics as, the sub prime lending fallout, mortgage market changes, and localism (revitalizing downtowns, business growth, community volunteerism and events)