The new year brings some good news for Massachusetts home buyers. For many counties in MA, loan limits have increased to reflect rising home prices. Here’s a look at the 2019 loan limits for conforming and FHA mortgages in Massachusetts.

Increased FHA Loan Limits for 2019

FHA loan limits for 2019 begin at $314,827 and go as high as $726,525, depending on the county. The upper end of this limit is 6.89% higher than last year. Here are the limits for individual counties in Massachusetts:

County Name Single Family 2 Family 3 Family
BARNSTABLE $458,850 $587,400 $710,050
BERKSHIRE $314,827 $403,125 $487,250
BRISTOL $454,250 $581,500 $702,900
DUKES $726,525 $930,300 $1,124,475
ESSEX $688,850 $881,850 $1,065,950
FRANKLIN $314,827 $403,125 $487,250
HAMPDEN $318,550 $407,800 $492,950
HAMPSHIRE $318,550 $407,800 $492,950
MIDDLESEX $688,850 $881,850 $1,065,950
NANTUCKET $726,525 $930,300 $1,124,475
NORFOLK $688,850 $881,850 $1,065,950
PLYMOUTH $688,850 $881,850 $1,065,950
SUFFOLK $688,850 $881,850 $1,065,950
WORCESTER $327,750 $419,550 $507,150

Conforming Loan Limits for 2019

Conforming loans are those sold into the secondary mortgage market. Buyers who are not using specialized loans like VA or FHA will typically use a conforming loan. Thus, they are one of the most popular mortgage products. However, they do have limits as well. Here are the 2019 limits for conforming loans for individual counties in Massachusetts:

County Single Family 2 Family 3 Family
BARNSTABLE $484,350 $620,200 $749,650
BERKSHIRE $484,350 $620,200 $749,650
BRISTOL $484,350 $620,200 $749,650
DUKES $726,525 $930,300 $1,124,475
ESSEX $688,850 $881,850 $1,065,950
FRANKLIN $484,350 $620,200 $749,650
HAMPDEN $484,350 $620,200 $749,650
HAMPSHIRE $484,350 $620,200 $749,650
MIDDLESEX $688,850 $881,850 $1,065,950
NANTUCKET $726,525 $930,300 $1,124,475
NORFOLK $688,850 $881,850 $1,065,950
PLYMOUTH $688,850 $881,850 $1,065,950
SUFFOLK $688,850 $881,850 $1,065,950
WORCESTER $484,350 $620,200 $749,650

Alternative Options for Homes Exceeding 2019 Loan Limits for Conforming and FHA Mortgages

These newer limits are great, especially in light of continually rising home prices in many areas of Massachusetts. Why are loan limits important? For higher loan amounts, buyers must use jumbo loan products. Jumbo loans have less favorable interest rates and stricter qualification criteria. Thus, it is not a good option for some buyers. In fact, some may not even qualify for a jumbo loan at all. The increase in 2019 loan limits enables more buyers to purchase homes in high priced markets in Massachusetts.

If you are currently searching for a home in MA, be sure to contact your loan officer for an updated pre-approval. Additionally, don’t forget to select a Massachusetts real estate attorney to assist with P&S review and your closing. The team at Martino Law Group would be happy to assist you. Call us anytime to get started!