For some context, in 2009 jumbo loans accounted for 5.5% of the market. Contrast that with this year, through September, where they’re accounting for almost 19% of the market — the highest level since 2006 (though still not quite to the peak of 2000). Why the difference? The answer is simple. A conforming loan is based on government set limits. The price of houses has been going up, and the government limits haven’t. The median home price in most of the U.S. is well below the normal limit, but only 39 counties will see increases in 2016, which will put pressure on mortgages over much of the country.
