30 Year Fixed and Jumbo Loans - The Bills.com Blog

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30 Year Fixed and Jumbo Loans

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Question: What is the difference between 30-year fixed and 30-year fixed jumbo?

Answer: Your question refers to mortgage loan nomenclature, which can be confusing:

A 30 year fixed loan is a loan where the principal is repaid over a 30 year period and the interest rate your lender charges is fixed for the life of the loan.

This contrasts from an ARM, which is an "adjustable rate mortgage" where the loan's interest rate is fixed for a short period of time and then readjusts for the remaining term of the loan to an adjustable market rate. If rates go down, you benefit... but if rates go up your rate will increase and your monthly payment could rise.

Jumbo refers to the size of the loan. A Jumbo Mortgage is a mortgage with a loan amount above conventional loan limits. Jumbo Mortgages
apply when agency limits don't cover the full loan amount. Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC) are large agencies that purchase the bulk of residential mortgages in the U.S. They set a limit on the maximum dollar value of any mortgage which they will purchase from an individual lender. A loan amount greater than this limit (currently $417,000 for a single family
home in the contiguous states) is considered a Jumbo loan. Since Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are unable to fund jumbo loans, these loans usually have a higher interest rate than conforming loans.

Bills.com makes it easy to compare mortgage offers and different loan types. Please visit the Loans page and find a loan that meets your needs.

Best,
Bill
www.bills.com

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User Comments

My loan is a 30 year jumbo. My home was $124,000. Can you explain why it is called a jumbo?

In the United States, a jumbo mortgage is a mortgage with a loan amount above the industry-standard definition of conventional conforming loan limits. This standard is set by the two largest secondary market lenders, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Loans above the conforming limits may be offered by seller servicers of these wholesale institutions, as well as Wall Street conduits who provide warehouse financing for mortgage lenders. The loan amounts reflect average loan sizes nationwide. Jumbo mortgages apply when agency (FNMA and FHLMC) limits don't cover the full loan amount. Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC) are large agencies that purchase the bulk of residential mortgages in the U.S. They set a limit on the maximum dollar value of any mortgage they will purchase from an individual lender. As of 2006, the limit is $417,000, or $625,500 in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Other large investors, such as insurance companies and banks, step in to fill the need, with maximum mortgage amounts going to the $1 million or $2 million range. A loan in excess of $650,000 is referred to as a super jumbo mortgage. The average interest rates on jumbo mortgages are typically greater than is normal for conforming mortgages, and vary depending on property types and mortgage amount.

I have a 30 year mortgage with PMI conventional fixed. I am unable to understand the lingo. Base, I guess was 3.50% ajustable with a 3 year pre-penalty. The cap is 9% and I am still lost. I end the 3 years arm now in July. My queston is what hapens next? is my loan going up or staying fixed. Thank you,

You should confirm the facts with your lender. There is not enough information in your question and I do not want to take a guess.

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