FHFA announces conforming loan limits for Fannie and Freddie mortgages: Massachusetts Homeowners Homebuyers

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently announced its 2022 conforming loan limits (CLL) for conventional loans acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The limit is adjusted each year to reflect changes in housing prices across the country. In most of the U.S., the 2022 CLL for one-unit properties will be $647,200, a $98,950 increase from $548,250 in 2021, according to a press release. As house prices increased an average of 18 percent  between the third quarters of 2020 and 2021, the baseline CLL in 2022 will increase by the same percentage, according to the 2021 FHFA House Price Index report. However, the loan limit will be higher in areas where 115 percent of the local median home value exceeds the baseline limit.

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) establishes that limit, with a “ceiling” of 150 percent of the baseline limit. The report noted that the new ceiling loan limit for one-unit properties in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands would be $970,800, 150 percent of $647,200. Due to rising home values, the CLLs will be higher in all but four U.S. counties or county-equivalents.

“Compared to previous years, the 2022 conforming loan limits represent a significant increase due to the historical house price appreciation over the last year,” said Sandra L. Thompson, acting director of FHFA, in a statement. “While 95 percent of U.S. counties will be subject to the new baseline limit of $647,200, approximately 100 counties will have conforming loan limits approaching $1 million. FHFA is actively evaluating the relationship between house price growth and conforming loan limits, particularly as they relate to creating affordable and sustainable homeownership opportunities across all communities.”

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