Purpose
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) calculates forward mortgage limits based on the median house prices in accordance with the National Housing Act. FHA’s Single Family forward mortgage limits are set by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and county and are published periodically. FHA publishes updated limits effective for each calendar year. FHA sets these limits at or between the low-cost area and high-cost area limits based on the median house prices for the area.
Effective Date
Forward mortgage limits for calendar year 2019 are effective for case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2019.
Requests for Local Increases (Appeals)
Any request for a change to high-cost-area loan limits must comply with the existing guidance in HUD Handbook 4000.1, Section II.A.2.a.ii (A). Such requests must be received by FHA’s Santa Ana Homeownership Center no later than January 14, 2019. Any changes in area loan limits because of valid appeals will be in effect retroactively for case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2019.
Affected Topics
This guidance will affect HUD’s Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 (Handbook 4000.1), section II.A.2.a.ii(B) – Low-cost Area; section II.A.2.a.ii(C) – High-cost Area; and section II.A.2.a.ii(D) – Special Exceptions for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
Access to 2019 Limits
As stated in HUD Handbook 4000.1, Section II.A.2.a.ii, FHA forward mortgage limits for individual MSAs and counties are available on the internet at https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm.
In addition, downloadable text files with complete listings of all county loan limits are available at http://www.hud.gov/pub/chums/file_layouts.html. There are no jurisdictions with a decrease in loan limits from the 2018 levels. To enable Mortgagees to easily identify areas with loan limit increases, FHA has published a separate list of counties with loan limit increases. Mortgagees may view this list along with a list of areas at the ceiling and a list of areas between the floor and ceiling on the Maximum Mortgage Limits web page at http://portal.hud.gov/hudporta... h/lender/origination/mortgage_limits.
[See Mortgagee Letter for complete details]