Posted on: 14th Apr, 2004 05:21 pm
If you're into buying a bigger home or refinancing to pull out lump sum cash, then jumbo mortgages may be just what you need.A jumbo mortgage loan or a non-conforming loan is a home loan with a loan amount that exceeds that conforming loan limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two federal organizations that purchase mortgages from lenders. The conforming loan limit for most parts of the country is $417,000, but it can move up to $625,500 in the highest-cost areas of the country.
If you have good credit and your income is high enough, you'll be better off with a jumbo loan. But be prepared for the strict underwriting requirements, often more than one appraisal, detailed inquiry about your finances, income and debt and other factors which affect your ability to pay off the bigger loan.
How do I qualify for Jumbo Loans?
Check out 3 factors prior to going for a bigger loan:
- Your credit standing
A FICO score of 680 is the minimum you should have, though most lenders look out for scores above 700 for jumbo loans. If you don't have such a score, better wait till it improves or else you may not get a good rate and end up in mortgage problems. Here are a few credit tips to help you qualify:
- Pay down revolving debt, if any and try to improve your score by 5-12 points within 3 months if your score is somewhat close to 680-700.
- Try to reduce the balance by 50% on credit cards which you've maxed out.
- Avoid opening new lines of credit.
- Close unused credit cards which you've been handling since a long time.
- Resolve medical collections and late payment issues or else these can hurt your score.
For additional credit tips, refer to the credit repair section. The purpose is to have a clean credit report before you apply for the loan. - How much to put down The down payment depends upon where you're buying the property. Most markets would require you to put down 20% of the purchase price especially in markets where home prices are on a decline. For other areas, a 5% down payment can be accepted.
- Your assets and liability You may qualify for a bigger loan but it's better not to go for a loan amount higher than your affordability. So, make a list of your assets and liabilities and check out how much you can afford. Apart from your assets, the number of bank accounts that you use for business/personal purpose, matters a lot.
How's the interest rate?
Usually jumbo loans are available at 1-2% higher rate than that of conforming loans. The higher your jumbo loan amount, the higher is the rate offered. Other factors affecting the borrower's rate are his financial situation, creditworthiness and debt-to-income ratio.
The higher rates for bigger loans account for the greater risk involved. That's because once a borrower defaults, he'll not find it easy selling his home and paying off the loan. Neither will the lender be able to sell off through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu and recover the proceeds. The reason is, there's only a small market for homes secured by jumbo loans; hence this translates into higher interest rates charged by lenders.
The higher rates for bigger loans account for the greater risk involved. That's because once a borrower defaults, he'll not find it easy selling his home and paying off the loan. Neither will the lender be able to sell off through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu and recover the proceeds. The reason is, there's only a small market for homes secured by jumbo loans; hence this translates into higher interest rates charged by lenders.
How can I make jumbo loans more affordable for me?
Here are 3 tips to help you structure the loan such that you can afford it.
- Conforming and second mortgages:
Lenders often provide jumbo loans as a combination of 2 loans –conforming loan and second mortgage. The first being a conforming loan, will fetch you a lower rate than the jumbo. The second, usually a Heloc, will have higher rate; the lesser the second loan amount, the lower will be the blended or effective rate of the two mortgages.
To find out whether you should take out jumbo loan or a combination of conforming and second mortgage, you need to determine monthly payment on both the offers and as well as the total interest paid for each. Then compare the costs including total interest paid on each of the loans and then take the final decision.
However, if you have higher income, you may even think of paying off the second faster using your bonus. - Bigger down payment:
If you have a good credit history (with a score of around 720) and can put down more than 20%, you have a fair chance of getting a lower rate on a conventional jumbo loan. For FHA loans, off-course the down payment is far lower. - Pay points for a low rate:
If you're staying in the house for more than 4-5 years, it's worth paying points to lower the rate on your jumbo loan.
If you have good credit and your income is high enough, you'll be better off with a jumbo loan. But be prepared for the strict underwriting requirements, often more than one appraisal, detailed inquiry about your finances, income and debt and other factors which affect your ability to pay off the bigger loan.
Related Readings
What is the limit for Conforming, I forget?
As announced on November 30, 2004, the "conforming" loan limits for 2005 are:
One-family: $359,650 (up from $333,700)
Two-family: $460,400 (up from $427,150)
Three-family: $556,500 (up from $516,300)
Four-family: $691,600 (up from $641,650)
These limits are effective for loans closed on or after January 1, 2005.
The maximum loan amounts for one-to-four family mortgages in Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. Vir gin Islands are 50% higher than the limits for the rest of the country.
Hope this will sufice your needs.
Adonis
One-family: $359,650 (up from $333,700)
Two-family: $460,400 (up from $427,150)
Three-family: $556,500 (up from $516,300)
Four-family: $691,600 (up from $641,650)
These limits are effective for loans closed on or after January 1, 2005.
The maximum loan amounts for one-to-four family mortgages in Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. Vir gin Islands are 50% higher than the limits for the rest of the country.
Hope this will sufice your needs.
Adonis
The cut and paste from above is a year old here is the info for 2006
Single-Family Mortgage Loan Limits effective January 1, 2006:
First mortgages
One-family loans: $417,000
Two-family loans: $533,850
Three-family loans: $645,300
Four-family loans: $801,950
Note: One- to four- family mortgages in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are 50 percent higher than the limits for the rest of the country.
Single-Family Mortgage Loan Limits effective January 1, 2006:
First mortgages
One-family loans: $417,000
Two-family loans: $533,850
Three-family loans: $645,300
Four-family loans: $801,950
Note: One- to four- family mortgages in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are 50 percent higher than the limits for the rest of the country.
I have relocated to an area where housing is costlier than where come from. My husband and I are I are looking for a $650,000 home with down payment of 15%. Fico score of my husband is TU 680, Ex 700 and Eq 755. our combined gross income is $2,00,000. I have paid collections, no credit card balance. But I have a personal loan for which I'm paying $670 per month. Can I qualify for jumbo loan considering the credit crisis? What can be the rates offered?
Hi taira,
Welcome to the forum.
Your credit score is good and also you have good income. So I think you can surely get a Jumbo loan. You need to shop a bit for lenders. You can even request for no-obligation free mortgage quote from the rated lenders of the community. You need to give just minimum details.
Hope you will enjoy participating in this forum.
Best of luck,
Larry
Welcome to the forum.
Your credit score is good and also you have good income. So I think you can surely get a Jumbo loan. You need to shop a bit for lenders. You can even request for no-obligation free mortgage quote from the rated lenders of the community. You need to give just minimum details.
Hope you will enjoy participating in this forum.
Best of luck,
Larry
Hi Taira,
Your credit scores are impressive and so is your income. The fact that there are no credit card balances or you have paid collections will hopefully work in your favor when it comes to qualifying. Also, a 15% down payment is good enough to qualify.
Jumbo loan rates on both fixed rate and adjustable rate loans have dropped down by a few points, so you can try out for them. And with the limit having increased especially in high costs areas, you'll get a chance to get a bigger home too.
Thanks.
Your credit scores are impressive and so is your income. The fact that there are no credit card balances or you have paid collections will hopefully work in your favor when it comes to qualifying. Also, a 15% down payment is good enough to qualify.
Jumbo loan rates on both fixed rate and adjustable rate loans have dropped down by a few points, so you can try out for them. And with the limit having increased especially in high costs areas, you'll get a chance to get a bigger home too.
Thanks.
What is the loan amount to be considered as jumbo ?
While most lenders have stopped offering Jumbo (greater than $729,750) loans, Clarion Capital continue to offer several extremely attractive Jumbo loans. Here Jumbo financing could be Purchase, Refinance or Cash Out loan for Owner Occupied, Second Homes or even Investment Properties.
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I would haver thought that acquring a loan of this magnitude would require significantly more stringent criteria, especially around the value of the propert and minimum equity. are 5% options really available at present?
is it possible to refiannce a house with with 5% down payment on $820K jumbo loan? good credit and good income.
Hi annie,
You will have to pay a down payment of at least 20% in order to qualify for a jumbo loan. Normally, the lenders may even ask for a higher down payment in case of a jumbo loan.
Thanks
You will have to pay a down payment of at least 20% in order to qualify for a jumbo loan. Normally, the lenders may even ask for a higher down payment in case of a jumbo loan.
Thanks