Wednesday, March 5, 2008

FHA Raises loan limits in CA!!

The Federal Housing Administration raised the mortgage limits to a maximum of $729,750 for 14 high-cost counties in California, as the government began providing aid to homeowners required by the recently enacted economic-stimulus package. This is huge if you have a loan balance up to 729750 or are about to buy a house with that loan amount. FHA loans do not care about credit scores and they will lend up to 97% of the value of the home with a below-market interest rate. The only catch is that you have to verify your income.

The upper mortgage limits also will apply to loans purchased or guaranteed by government-sponsored mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, FHA officials said.

Details for the rest of the country are due to be announced this week. California counties such as Los Angeles and Orange will be eligible for the maximum limit, which was raised from $362,790. Lower- priced regions, such as Trinity and Lassen counties, will qualify for a loan cap of $271,050, up from $200,160.

FHA officials predicted the increases in California would aid about 33,000 individuals. The new loan limits will be in effect through the end of this year. The goal is to invigorate the market for larger mortgages, which should help push down interest rates.

The FHA said there would be an appeal process through which the new loan limits could be raised higher for counties that aren't now eligible for the $729,750 maximum, but none of the limits will be lowered, said Bill Glavin, special assistant for public affairs in the FHA's Commissioner's Office. That appeals process could be announced, along with new loan limits for the rest of the country, as early as Thursday.

"From what we understand there are not going to be a lot of areas in the country except for California that are going to be at the maximum," Mr. Glavin said.

Those who have applied for an FHA loan but haven't yet closed on it will be able to take advantage of the new limits. The new ceilings also will apply to people seeking to refinance into an FHA loan.


FHA Mortgage Limits in California by County

County Name Median Home Price FHA Limit
Alameda County $995,000 $729,750
Alpine County 438,000 547,500
Amador County 355,000 443,750
Butte County 320,000 400,000
Calaveras County 370,000 462,500
Colusa County 318,000 397,500
Contra Costa County 995,000 729,750
Del Norte County 249,000 311,250
El Dorado County 464,000 580,000
Fresno County 305,000 381,250
Glenn County 230,000 287,500
Humboldt County 315,000 393,750
Imperial County 260,000 325,000
Inyo County 350,000 437,500
Kern County 295,000 368,750
Kings County 260,000 325,000
Lake County 321,000 401,250
Lassen County 200,000 271,050
Los Angeles County 710,000 729,750
Madera County 340,000 425,000
Marin County 995,000 729,750
Mariposa County 330,000 412,500
Mendocino County 410,000 512,500
Merced County 378,000 472,500
Modoc County 125,000 271,050
Mono County 370,000 462,500
Monterey County 599,000 729,750
Napa County 615,000 729,750
Nevada County 450,000 562,500
Orange County 710,000 729,750
Placer County 464,000 580,000
Plumas County 328,000 410,000
Riverside County 400,000 500,000
Sacramento County 464,000 580,000
San Benito County 790,000 729,750
San Bernardino County 400,000 500,000
San Diego County 558,000 697,500
San Francisco County 995,000 729,750
San Joaquin County 391,000 488,750
San Luis Obispo County 550,000 687,500
San Mateo County 995,000 729,750
Santa Barbara County 615,000 729,750
Santa Clara County 790,000 72,9750
Santa Cruz County 719,000 729,750
Shasta County 339,000 423,750
Sierra County 228,000 285,000
Siskiyou County 235,000 293,750
Solano County 446,000 557,500
Sonoma County 530,000 662,500
Stanislaus County 339,000 423,750
Sutter County 340,000 425,000
Tehama County 250,000 312,500
Trinity County 200,000 271,050
Tulare County 260,000 325,000
Tuolumne County 350,000 437,500
Ventura County 599,000 729,750
Yolo County 464,000 580,000
Yuba County 340,000 425,000

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