Under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) , which approved in July 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) was established and directed to set conforming mortgage limits each year. The policy governing how the finance limits are established diverge from the policy set forth in the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (ESA), which applies to loans originated in 2008. For example, under ESA, finance limits for high-cost areas were set at 125 percent of Local house cost medians and the highest high-cost limit was 175 percent of the national conforming limit ($729,750 in the continental U.S.).

Starting January 1st, the nationalmortgage limit for one-unit homes in the lower 48 states shall be pegged to a house cost index selected by the FHFA. The national mortgage limit for 2009 will continue at $417,000. In future years, the fha mortgage limit for any given area shall be set at 115 percent of the median house in that area, as determined by HUD, except that the FHA mortgage limit in any given area cannot exceed 150 percent of the Freddie Mac nationalfinance limit, nor be lower than 65 percent of the Freddie Mac nationalfinance limit.

This essentially creates the ?Floor? and the ?Ceiling? for the highest FHA mortgage amount for a given area with the lowest maximum FHA finance amount being $271,050 in any region and the maximum FHA finance amount being 625,500. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the USVI may be adjusted to 150% of these limits to account for elevated expenses.

The new FHA mortgage limits for 2009 are detailed below:

In areas where 115 percent of the medium house charge is less than 65 percent of the Freddie Mac limit, the FHA limits are set at the 65 percent amount, i.e., the ?Floor,? as follows:

One-Unit $271,050

Two-Unit $347,000

Three-Unit $419,400

Four-Unit $521,250

Any region where the limits exceed the floor is known as a high costvicinity. In areas where 115 percent of the medium house cost exceeds the 150 percent figure, the mortgage limits are set at the 150 percent amount, i.e., the ?Ceiling,? as follows:

One-Unit $625,500

Two-Unit $800,775

Three-Unit $967,950

Four-Unit $1,202,925

For all other areas, i.e., those where 115 percent of the medium home for the vicinity is in between the floor and the ceiling, the limit shall be at 115 percent of the medium home cost.

These new FHA mortgage limits could mean that the time might be right for you to ponder an FHA refinance mortgage or an FHA mortgage for your new home purchase. If you would like more information on FHA home loans or FHA refinance loans, .