What to Expect From a Jumbo Mortgage Loan.

In simple terms, a jumbo Mortgage is a loan for real estate that exceeds loan standards for average priced homes.

How is the amount of a jumbo load determined?

What makes jumbo mortgages different is the loan amount. Today, loans greater than $417,000 are usually deemed jumbo mortgages. This classification is determined based on industry standards for average home loans as defined by the two biggest secondary mortgage lenders, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set industry standards for 'conforming loans'; home loans exceeding those limits are considered jumbo mortgages. These two agencies cap the dollar figure for loans that they will buy (that's where the $417,000 figure comes from). Larger loans are funded by a variety of other investors, like insurance companies and banks. Note that the dollar figure set to qualify jumbo mortgages differs by locale, so the limit is higher in Hawaii and Alaska (and a few others). In the majority of the U.S., jumbo mortgages are those larger than $417K.

Best Terms - 30 Year Fixed Jumbo Mortgage Rate, 15 Year, or Variable 30 Year Jumbo Mortgage

The terms for jumbo mortgages vary similarly to other types of housing loans. Buyers can choose between variable rates, for example 3/1 or 5/1 ARMs (Adjustable Rate Mortgage), for a 15-30 year jumbo mortgage, or a 15 or 30 year fixed jumbo mortgage.

Whether a 15 or 30 year fixed jumbo mortgage or an adjustable rate is best for you will depend on your plans and situation.

A 30 year fixed jumbo mortgage is better for those who plan to own the home for a very long time. With this type of mortgage, the rate will not go up but it will never go down, either - it remains at the same rate for the duration of the loan. This is good because the payment is predictable, and cannot rise sharply if interest rates do. Conversely, the 30 year fixed jumbo mortgage rate is higher because the lender knows they can never get more than the original rate.

An Adjustable 30 year jumbo mortgage rate is usually the lowest. Lenders understand their potential to benefit from increases in rates over time, so are willing to lend at a smaller margin in the beginning. Although, the lower rate won't last. A variable 30 year jumbo mortgage rate will be fixed for 3 to 5 years, and then will adjust annually according to an index. Even small increases could mean significantly larger monthly mortgage payments.

An adjustable 30 year jumbo mortgage rate is a good idea when a buyer plans to move within the 3 to 5 year fixed period. For a buyer more concerned with smaller initial payments, or who will likely refinance in the near future, the variable rate is more advantageous than the 30 year fixed jumbo mortgage. Why pay the higher fixed rate when the buyer knows this isn’t their long-term plan?

Jumbo mortgage products - 15 year, variable 30 year, or the 30 year fixed jumbo mortgage - can be beneficial. An honorable mortgage lender with experience financing jumbo mortgages is a buyer's best source of advice on which product to choose.