High-Balance Loans

The 3CALoan High-Balance Mortgage Loan Lending Advantage

High-Balance LoanWhat are High-Balance Loans?

High-balance loans exceed the national conforming loan limits for borrowers living in expensive regions of the country. In the U.S., lenders package mortgage loans into investment bundles to sell and lend to both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These two companies, which drive the housing market, provide a secondary market for mortgages. Consequently, Fannie and Freddie have enforced a maximum loan size for all backed loans. Because the US housing market expanded in the last few decades, the loan size limits increased. In effect, Fannie and Freddie created high balance loans, which were vital to markets in Orange County and New York City.

Loan Limits

What is Baseline Limit?

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) requires that the baseline conforming loan limit is adjusted every year. Hence, the adjustment (for the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac companies) reflects the change in the average U.S. home price. Recently, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced the changes in maximum conforming loan limits for mortgages in 2020. Therefore, the baseline maximum conforming loan limit was supposed to increase by the same amount this year.

In majority of the country, the 2020 maximum conforming loan limit for one-unit properties has changed to $510,400. This is definitely an increase from $484,350 in 2019. In short, it pretty much means that all the counties in the country will have a loan limit of at least $510,400.

High-Balance Loan Limits:

There are areas in the country in which 115.00% of the local median home value exceeds the baseline conforming loan limit. Thus, the maximum loan limit is higher than the baseline loan limit in those areas. According to the FHFA, the new ceiling loan limit for one-unit properties in the most high-costing areas will be $765,600. Ultimately, this is about 150.00% of $510,400. High-balance loans also known as high-balance conforming loans apply to high-costing counties in states like California, New Jersey, and New York. High-cost counties in other states will also be eligible for the higher loan limit of $765,600. The following is the list of all counties in the state of California with a high-balance loan limit of $765,600:

  • Los Angeles
  • Orange
  • Ventura
  • San Francisco
  • San Mateo
  • Alameda
  • Santa Clara
  • Contra Costa
  • Marin
  • Napa
  • San Benito
  • San Diego (Max limit of $649,750)
  • Santa Cruz

Due to special statutory provisions, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands use different calculations for loan limit. The baseline loan limit in the aforementioned regions are $765,600 for one-unit properties. However, loan limits may be higher in some specific locations.

Multi-Unit Loan Limits:

For areas that are greater than 1-unit properties, the loan limits are higher. They are reflected as follows:

  • Base Loan Limit for 2-Unit property is $653,550
  • Base Loan Limit for 3-Unit property is $789,950
  • Base Loan Limit for 4-Unit property is $981,700
  • High-balance Loan Limit for 2-Unit property is $980,325
  • High-balance Loan Limit for 2-Unit property is $1,184,925
  • High-balance Loan Limit for 2-Unit property is $1,472,550

High-Balance Loan Eligibility Standards

The high-balance loan program, introduced in 2009, has so far been a success. These backed mortgage loans make it easier to qualify for a mortgage in high-cost regions for borrowers who would have been unable to get financing otherwise. Additionally, mortgage standards for the loan are relaxed. Therefore, it is easier for borrowers in high-cost areas to get excellent loan terms and lower rates. It is almost as if these changes make them behave like “standard” conforming loans. The following changes make high-balance loans behave like standard conforming loans:

  1. The first change is that gifts or grants can fully fund the down payments. If the loan has an 80% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio or less, borrowers do not have to bring 5% of their funds to the closing.
  2. The second big change is especially important for borrowers in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston. Condominium loans do not require two different comparable sales from outside the project or building. This change makes it easier for high-costing cities mentioned above. After all, in high costing cities, condominiums sell for more than the national conforming loan limit.
  3. The third big change is that LTV limits have increased. High balance loans allow 95% LTV limits on a fixed-rate loan. In addition, ninety percent LTV limits are allowed for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) because LTV limits have increased.

Why should you choose 3CALoan?

If you are looking to purchase a new home, high-balance loans are the loans that you should look into. We can help you find a mortgage loan fitting your personal and housing needs. 3CALoan has developed comprehensive high-balance loans. Furthermore, our competitive rates, efficient services, and talented team can help ease the process of purchasing a home. We help our customers every step of the way. We like to make sure our clients are well-informed and knowledgeable about what is happening in regards to their mortgage. In short, our excellent quality services are reflected on our client’s happiness and confidence upon closing a deal. To find out more information about FHA loans and how we can help, contact us at (818) 322-5626.