If you are looking into purchasing a home in the Seattle area, you might need to apply for a jumbo loan to finance your dream purchase. Jumbo loans in Seattle exceed the limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency and helps individuals finance more expensive home purchases.
The availability and rates of jumbo loans are contingent on several factors, including location, the lender’s specific terms and conditions, as well as the state of the economy. Since these things are always in flux, you should inform yourself as much as possible before committing to one of these massive financing instruments.
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Conforming Loan vs. Jumbo Loan: Seattle Limits
First things first, conforming loans and jumbo loans are different.
Conforming loans, sometimes known as conventional loans, are traditional home loans that meet the requirements for purchase by a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE). A non-conforming loan is one that doesn’t meet these requirements.
Non-conforming loans include:
- Jumbo loans
- Government-backed loans
- FHA loans
- USDA loans
Like non-conforming loans, conforming loans also have their own sets of limits. For example, in King County, the limit for a single-unit home is currently capped at $891,250. More expensive counties tend to have a higher limit on both their conforming and non-conforming loans.
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Mortgages that are even a single dollar over that cutoff are considered jumbo loans, and both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will decline to purchase them from your lender. That can be beneficial, because you know your lender won’t change, like it often does with conventional or conforming loans.
Tip: Commercial properties and multi-unit properties are not eligible for jumbo loans.
Jumbo Loans Vary by Location
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) follows housing prices in regions closely. They then set the limit for conventional or conforming loans based on what they believe is a fair market value for properties.
These amounts vary widely between states and even between counties within a state. At the end of the year, the FHFA announces new loan limits based on the location and average figure of house prices.
2022 Seattle Jumbo Loan Limits
Since a jumbo loan is anything that exceeds the cap for conventional loans, there isn’t a streamlined cap for these amounts.
For example, in King County, anything exceeding $891,250 (the cap for conventional loans) will be considered a jumbo loan and the limit is thereby increased from the conforming loan limit of 2020. It is up to your lender to decide what their jumbo loan limit will be based on your financial information, location, and desired house.
[Related: Make Sure You Have These Supporting Documents for Loan Approval]
Lenders Set Their Own Standards for Jumbo Loans in Seattle
Conforming loans must meet special guidelines, especially if your lender hopes to sell the instrument to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. With jumbo loans, since your lender will likely retain the mortgage indefinitely, they can make their own decisions about credit scores and other key underwriting guidelines.
Depending on your lender, that could make it easier to get approved for a jumbo loan or much more difficult. Your lender will generally expect a credit score of 700 or higher, while 650 is often high enough for approval on conforming loans.
You may also be subject to stricter debt-to-income ratios than others. That means that financing a vehicle or maxing out a credit card could impact your ability to get a loan.
For most conforming loans, lenders cap your debt-to-income ratio at 43 percent, including your mortgage payment. For some jumbo lenders, that number could drop down to 36 percent, limiting your ability to use credit for other purchases in the near future.
In summary, here are some of the general requirements for qualifying for a jumbo loan:
- Credit score of around 700 or higher
- Max debt-to-income ratio of 43% (sometimes as low as 36%)
- Minimum down payment of 10-30%
- Required income and employment history documents
- Required tax documents
- 6-18 months of mortgage payments saved
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More Debt and Bigger Down Payments Are Involved in Seattle Jumbo Loans
The larger the amount financed, the bigger your overall debt load will be. You’ll have to spend more of your income, possibly for more years, to fully pay off your financing.
You will also need more liquid capital upfront to purchase your home. Buyers with less than 20 percent down available will pay for the convenience of that lower upfront investment. You will likely need to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI), which can substantially increase your monthly payment.
Additionally, a lower amount down could increase the interest rate for your loan. That can end up costing you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. Make sure that you factor that into your decision regarding how much mortgage and house you want to invest in when you buy.
[Related: Why Waiting to Save a 20% Down Payment May Not Be the Right Move]
Current State of Seattle Jumbo Loans During the Coronavirus Pandemic
After the housing market crash of the late-aughts, the United States has been slowly building itself back up. Since around 2015, the market has been strong enough to provide relatively low rates for jumbo loans.
However, when COVID-19 hit the United States at the beginning of 2020, the jumbo loan market tanked.
With unemployment rates at an all-time high and a disproportionate number of homeowners entering forbearance agreements, lenders shied away from giving out loans (some nonbank lenders even stopped offering jumbo loans completely).
As stay-at-home orders have eased, vaccines roll out, and businesses have started operating again with restrictions, the current market has once again started the process of rebuilding itself. As of December 2021, conventional mortgage rates averaged 3.35%, while the average rate of jumbo loans are close behind at 3.23%.
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If you’re interested in finding out more about Seattle jumbo loans or want to discuss your best route for refinancing your existing mortgage, Seattle Mortgage Planners can help. Contact us today — we look forward to working with you!
