A jumbo loan, also known as a jumbo mortgage, is a form of home financing for whose amount exceeds the conforming loan limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). As a result, unlike conventional mortgages, it is not eligible to be purchased, guaranteed or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

 

Designed to finance luxury properties and homes in highly competitive local real estate markets, jumbo mortgages come with unique underwriting requirements and tax implications.

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Jumbo mortgages are gaining traction as the housing market continues to recover following the Great Recession.

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At what price does a mortgage exceed conventional/conforming and cross over into jumbo? It varies by state and even county. The FHFA sets the conforming loan limit size for different areas on an annual basis, though it changes infrequently.

 

In fact, the 2017 maximum limit for one-unit properties of $424,100 (for most of the country) is the first across-the-board, baseline increase since 2006.