“New” 2009 Conforming Loan Limit Unchanged From $417,000; High-Cost Areas Now Max Out at $625,500

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that the “new” conforming loan limit for 2009 will remain at $417,000 for most areas in the U.S., unchanged since 2006. Loan limits for high-cost areas, including California, are capped at $625,500, down from the previous $729,750 limit. Loan limits for many areas of the state do not reach this lower threshold and are dramatically reduced from 2008. “Although price declines mean that the total...