[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 203 (Monday, October 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59545-59549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20743]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight


Statement on the Conforming Loan Limit for 2008 and Revised Draft 
Examination Guidance

AGENCY: Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of availability of statement and request for comments on 
Revised Draft Examination Guidance.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight is 
publishing today a Statement on the Conforming Loan Limit for 2008 and 
issuing for additional public comment a revised version of the Proposed 
Examination Guidance, entitled ``Conforming Loan Limit Calculations'' 
(Policy Guidance). Material in the proposed guidance does not 
constitute a regulation.

DATES: Comments on OFHEO's Revised Draft Examination Guidance should be 
received by November 21, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on OFHEO's Revised Draft Examination 
Guidance to: the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Fourth 
Floor, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have any questions regarding 
OFHEO's Revised Draft Examination Guidance, you may contact Alfred M. 
Pollard, General Counsel, at (202) 414-3800 (not a toll free number). 
The telephone number for the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf is: 
(800) 877-8339 (TDD Only).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OFHEO's Revised Draft Examination Guidance 
is posted on the Internet at http://www.ofheo.gov. This document, as 
well as all others mentioned in the preamble can also be accessed on 
business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the Office of 
Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Fourth Floor, 1700 G Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20552. To make an appointment to inspect documents, 
please call the Office of General Counsel at (202) 414-6924.
    Comments Invited: You may submit your comments on OFHEO's Revised 
Draft Examination Guidance'' by any of the following methods:
     U.S. Mail, United Parcel Post, Federal Express, or Other 
Mail Service: The mailing address for comments is: Alfred M. Pollard, 
General Counsel, Attention: Comments/Revised Draft Examination 
Guidance, Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Fourth Floor, 
1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: The hand delivery address is: 
Alfred M. Pollard, General Counsel, Attention: Comments ``Revised Draft 
Examination Guidance,'' Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, 
Fourth Floor, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552. The package 
should be logged at the Guard Desk, First Floor, on business days 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
     E-mail: The e-mail address is: [email protected].
     Internet: When accessing documents online at http://www.ofheo.gov, comments can be sent by clicking the link for November 
13, 2007.
     Instructions: All submissions of received comments must 
include the reference ``Revised Draft Examination Guidance'' in the 
subject line of the message. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.ofheo.gov and will include any personal 
information provided.

I. Statement on the Conforming Loan Limit for 2008

    On November 15, 2006, OFHEO announced that any decline in the house 
price index used to establish the conforming loan limit would not 
result in a decline in that limit for 2007. OFHEO also committed at 
that time to providing updated guidance on how future reductions in the 
house price index would affect the conforming loan limit.
    On June 20, 2007, OFHEO released on its Web site for public comment 
a proposed revision to its existing Examination Guidance entitled 
``Conforming Loan Limit Calculations'' (the original proposal). Today, 
OFHEO is publishing in the Federal Register for public comment a 
revised version of that proposed guidance (the revised proposal).
    Both the original and revised proposal provide for holding the 
conforming loan limit constant, rather than having it decline, should 
the relevant house price index decline by a de minimis amount. The $650 
decline in the conforming loan limit implied by last year's house price 
decline falls within the de minimis range as originally proposed and as 
proposed here.
    Consistent with this intention of having a de minimis change 
exception to potential reductions in the loan limit, OFHEO is today 
affirming that the current $417,000 conforming loan limit will not be 
reduced in 2008, without regard to any reduction in the relevant house 
price index in 2007. Should the relevant house price index show an

[[Page 59546]]

increase in 2007, the conforming loan limit will either remain 
unchanged (if the increase is less than or equal to last year's 
decline), or increase (if the increase exceeds last year's decline, 
then that decline will be netted against this year's increase). In any 
event, the current $417,000 conforming loan limit will not decline in 
2008.

II. Request for Comment on Revised Examination Guidance, Conforming 
Loan Limit Calculations

    The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight is publishing 
today for public comment a revised Examination Guidance, entitled 
Conforming Loan Limit Calculations. Following comments received on the 
original proposal, OFHEO determined to make certain changes and to 
provide an opportunity for public comment on the revised proposal.
    Among other sections addressing procedures for calculating and 
implementing increases and decreases to the conforming loan limit, the 
original guidance proposed in its core provisions that decreases be 
deferred one year and then only taken when they clear a de minimis 
amount. In short, the loan limit decrease that was deferred for 2007 
will be deferred an additional year to 2009 if the underlying house 
price series declines again this year, as the previously deferred 
decrease was less than a de minimis amount (three percent). If the 
underlying series increases this year, the decrease will be subtracted 
from such increase in determining the maximum loan limits for 2008.
    OFHEO provided for public comment on the proposed examination 
guidance on OFHEO's Web site on June 20, 2007, and at the end of a 
thirty day comment period, some 23 comments from 25 organizations 
(representing over 2 million businesses) and individuals were received. 
OFHEO has taken these comments into consideration and has made 
alterations to the guidance. Central to OFHEO's consideration was 
assuring clarity in the process of calculating loan limits, providing 
for smooth market operations and affording certainty to those involved 
in making and securing mortgages--Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, mortgage 
originators, and homebuyers.
    The proposed guidance elaborated on, revised and superseded an 
existing guidance--Supervisory Guidance Conforming Loan Limit 
Calculations, SG-04-01 (February 20, 2004) that delineated OFHEO's role 
in calculating and announcing the conforming loan limit. In 2006, after 
a decline in housing price numbers, OFHEO announced that, while the 
conforming loan level had decreased, the resulting decline in the limit 
would be delayed a year. OFHEO also indicated it would revise and 
update the existing guidance and address how the decline would be 
implemented.

Background

    Calculations for the conforming loan limit establish the maximum 
size of loans that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may purchase, as provided 
in their charters. The conforming loan limit is adjusted annually 
through a calculation of year over year changes to the existing level 
of home prices based on data from the Federal Housing Finance Board's 
Monthly Interest Rate Survey (MIRS).
    Congress established the concept of loan size limit on purchases by 
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as an integral part of the creation of their 
``mission.'' Statutory language relating to the conforming loan limit 
permits ``adjustments'' to the conforming loan limit based on the 
``percentage increase'' of the prior year. The statutes did not address 
what would happen in the event that no increase occurred in the home 
price figures or the price figures declined. In November 2006, OFHEO 
acted to address this gap in the statutes, indicating that a decline or 
``negative increase'' had occurred in 2006 and would be taken into 
account following a one year deferral. As well, OFHEO committed to a 
revision of its existing guidance to address the process and procedures 
involved in calculations and how decreases would be implemented.
    Because of the importance of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the 
conforming loan limit to the mortgage markets and the interest of other 
financial institutions, mortgage bankers, builders, realtors and 
others, OFHEO solicited public comment on the guidance.
    OFHEO sought comment on all aspects of the guidance, noting certain 
key provisions. These were (1) addressing whether and how existing 
conforming loans should be grandfathered; (2) addressing a number of 
procedural matters, including rounding down announced loan limits to 
the nearest $100; and (3) providing clarity on declines in the 
conforming loan limit. As proposed, the decline would have to represent 
a greater than one percent drop in the loan limit (currently $417,000) 
or it would be deferred. Once deferrals reached one percent, then the 
total decline would be subtracted (one year later) from the conforming 
loan limit adjusting for any increase that had occurred. For example, 
the one percent threshold and one year lag mean that the earliest the 
2006 and 2007 conforming loan limit of $417,000 could be adjusted 
downward would be in 2009. That would only occur if prices continued to 
decline in 2007 and the cumulative 2006-2007 decline exceeded one 
percent, even after netting any 2008 increase.

III. Comments and Changes to the Conforming Loan Limit Guidance

    After a full review of comments, OFHEO has undertaken a number of 
changes and determined to publish a revised version of the guidance for 
additional comment.

1. Loan Limit Declines and Statute

    Some comments received agreed with OFHEO's determination while 
others disagreed. Most comments in opposition focused on statutory 
language relating to adding increases to an existing conforming loan 
limit or suggested that as a matter of policy declines should never be 
taken but rather be subtracted in years when the loan limit increased.
    OFHEO determined that declines fit within the statutory language as 
``negative increases.'' In the alternative, where statutory language is 
silent, as is the case here, regulators routinely fill gaps in statutes 
with rational solutions in line with available statutory intent. Since 
loan limit calculations are tied to annual home price surveys, 
increases and declines reasonably may be considered in line with that 
statutory structure. OFHEO has determined that filling the gap in 
statutory language is appropriate and sought to address, in light of 
comments, how its proposed guidance would be implemented.

2. Loan Limit Declines--Deferrals

    Comments received suggested that a deferral period was preferred. 
Most commenters, whether they opposed declines or not, favored an 
implementation of declines in the conforming loan limit with as little 
market disruption as possible. OFHEO agrees that its implementation 
should result in the least impact on both market operations and provide 
the greatest certainty for planning in the mortgage markets.
    The revised guidance would implement the proposed deferral of one 
year. This would permit markets well in advance to know that a decline 
may be forthcoming. Further, there will be certainty about the minimum 
level for the coming year.
    In line with comments received, OFHEO has amended the language to 
clarify that no loan limit decreases of less than the de minimis amount 
will be required, and that any such amounts

[[Page 59547]]

would be carried forward to the following year's determination. 
Decreases would be deferred until they reach a cumulative three percent 
or until they are used to offset future increases, so that ultimately 
cumulative percentage changes in the maximum loan limits would not 
exceed cumulative percentage changes in the MIRS price series (after 
any adjustments for methodological changes).

3. Loan Limit Declines--De Minimis and How Applied

    While comments received included those favoring the de minimis 
amount as proposed, many endorsed a larger de minimis amount to support 
OFHEO's efforts to keep market impact to a minimum. Some argued that 
the de minimis amount should be larger, in part to reflect the 
volatility of the price series obtained from the Federal Housing 
Finance Board's MIRS reports.
    The proposed guidance, in light of comments filed and a 
reexamination of the volatility in the MIRS price data, increases the 
de minimis amount from one percent to three percent. Because the 
maximum loan limits are based on 12-month changes (October-to-October) 
in the MIRS price series, we examined the history of 12-month changes. 
Volatility in that series is markedly lower after 1993, but still 
large. Particularly noteworthy is the frequency of month-to-month 
reversals. One would expect the overlapping series of 12-month changes 
to be fairly smooth, but more often than not the 12-month change ending 
in any month is not within the range of 12-month changes ending in the 
preceding and succeeding months. That is, if the average price 
increased 3 percent in the 12 months ending in March, and it increased 
8 percent in the 12 months ending in May, then more likely than not it 
either increased less than 3 percent or more than 8 percent in the 12 
months ending in April.
    Over the past 150 months, data for 96 months are outside the range 
of the preceding and succeeding months. In 61 cases, the middle month 
is more than one percentage point outside the range; in 35 cases, more 
than two percentage points; and in 16 cases, more than three percentage 
points. These results present strong evidence that a 12-month change of 
one or even two percent may easily be reversed the next month, and is 
therefore not an adequate justification for requiring a lowering of the 
loan limits. Some of these reversals no doubt reflect true turning 
points in house price behavior, however, most clearly do not. A 
reversal of 3 percent seems sufficiently unusual to assume it likely 
reflects a real change in house price trends.
    Accordingly, OFHEO has revised the guidance to provide for three 
percent as the de minimis amount.
    Declines in the loan limit would be applied as described in section 
2 above and as described in the Appendix to the revised guidance.

4. Grandfathering Issues

    Comments received suggested that proposed grandfathering of loans 
that conformed with the loan limit prior to a decline in the loan limit 
to facilitate operation of mortgage pipelines could be improved and 
clarified.
    OFHEO determined that clarification was in order and, in line with 
comments received, has revised the guidance to provide that if a loan 
has been conforming at any time, it cannot become non-conforming by 
virtue of a subsequent decline in the loan limit. Modification of a 
loan would not change its origination date or whether it is within the 
loan limits.

5. Rounding Down and Other Matters

    Comments received regarding a rounding down to the lowest $100 as 
opposed to the current OFHEO practice of rounding down to the lowest 
$50 were mixed with some opposing and others indicating either no 
objection to or no opinion on OFHEO's proposal.
    The revised guidance would adopt the approach of rounding down to 
the nearest $100 as having value as to market and consumer simplicity 
and understanding. Also, it would represent a doubling of this rounding 
standard, a much smaller percentage change than the increase in the 
loan limits since the $50 standard was adopted.
    Accordingly, as stated in the Preamble, OFHEO is revising the 
Examination Guidance on Conforming Loan Limit Calculations as follows:

    Dated: October 15, 2007.
James B. Lockhart III,
Director, Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

OFHEO

Examination Guidance

Issuance Date: October, 2007
Doc. : PG-07-001
Subject: Conforming Loan Limit Calculations

To: OFHEO Examiners
    OFHEO Associate Directors.

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
    a. Scope
    b. Preservation of Existing Authority
II. Calculation of Conforming Loan Limit
    a. General Procedures
    b. Procedures for Years in Which Limit Declines
    c. Procedures for Adjustments and Technical Changes
III. Appendix
References
    a. Supervisory Guidance SG-04-001
    b. Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness 
Act
    c. OFHEO Regulations Safety and Soundness Standards, 12 CFR part 
1720 & Prompt Supervisory Response & Corrective Act, 12 CFR part 
1777

I. Introduction

a. Scope

    This guidance addresses the annual establishment of the conforming 
loan limit amount for mortgages purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 
(``the Enterprises'') and OFHEO supervisory procedures related to such 
activity. This guidance replaces Supervisory Guidance SG-04-01.
(1) OFHEO Supervisory Authority
    OFHEO oversees two housing government sponsored enterprises-- 
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac--to assure they operate in a safe and sound 
manner and maintain adequate capital; 12 U.S.C. 4501, 4511, 4513. 
OFHEO's responsibilities include avoiding situations that would present 
safety and soundness problems; 12 CFR part 1720, Appendices A and B and 
12 CFR part 1777. In addressing areas where such problems could arise, 
OFHEO has highlighted corporate governance and financial disclosures; 
12 CFR parts 1730 and 1710. In its regulation on disclosure, OFHEO 
noted key areas of concern-access to markets and potential damages to 
the firms from incurring--reputation risk. Therefore, OFHEO has set 
forth this guidance to ensure that the conforming loan limit is 
established in a manner consistent with safe and sound operations and 
with statutory requirements.
    For twenty-five years of practice, the Enterprises announced a 
conforming loan limit. However, in seven of those years adjustments or 
decisions were made that raise safety and soundness concerns about the 
annual adjustment to the conforming loan limit. OFHEO believes that the 
situation may be addressed through appropriate guidance, setting a more 
regularized process of oversight and control for this matter of 
national significance. That is the intent of this guidance.
(2) Conforming Loan Limit (CLL)
    The Enterprises are authorized by their charters to purchase 
mortgages up to a specified limit as adjusted annually; 12 U.S.C. 
302(b)(2) and 305(a)(2). This

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limit is referred to as the conforming loan limit (CLL).
    The Enterprises make this adjustment based on a survey conducted by 
the Federal Housing Finance Board (FHFB). The FHFB monthly conducts and 
publishes the results of a survey of mortgage interest rates, the 
Monthly Interest Rate Survey (MIRS). Under the Enterprise charters, the 
change in the national average one-family house price during the 
twelve-month period ending with the previous October as determined by 
the FHFB in its survey is the basis for changes to the conforming loan 
limit. The Enterprises apply the percentage change to the current 
year's conforming loan limit to establish the next year's limit. This 
number constitutes part of the determinations of the eligibility of 
loans for Enterprise purchases.
    OFHEO as safety and soundness regulator has responsibility to 
oversee safe and sound operations and may act to redress violations of 
law by the Enterprises. In the case of the conforming loan limits OFHEO 
determined in 2004, following a problem in technical matters relating 
to the limits, that a more formalized process for establishing the 
conforming loan limit was needed.
(3) Background to Conforming Loan Limit Determinations
    Since 1981, the Enterprises have adjusted the conforming loan limit 
as allowed under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980. 
During this time frame, two types of occurrences have transpired that 
raise the need for a more formal process: (1) The Enterprises on some 
occasions adjusted their loan limits in a manner that is different from 
the survey results and (2) the Federal Housing Finance Board has made 
technical changes to its methodology for determining housing prices 
that the Enterprises have not reflected in their adjustments.
    In 2006 and on three prior occasions, the average house price 
declined from October to October (in 1989, 1993, and 1994). In November 
1989, the Enterprises reduced the 1990 conforming loan limit by $150 
from the 1989 level based on a house price decline of 0.07 percent. In 
November 1993 and November 1994, however, the Enterprises announced 
that the conforming mortgage loan limit would remain constant at 
$203,150, despite two declines in house prices of 2.96 percent in 1993 
and 1.46 percent in 1994 from the prior years. After housing prices 
increased from October 1994 to October 1995, the Enterprises raised the 
limit for 1996 without any adjustment for the previous declines.
    Additionally, in November 1997, the Enterprises took another 
course, setting a lower number than the adjustment produced. They 
determined that the 1998 conforming loan limit would increase by only 
3.67 percent, even though the percentage change in house prices using 
FHFB data for 1996-1997 was 8.44 percent. The practical effect of this 
action was to adjust for the 1993 and 1994 price declines.
    There have been three occasions when the Federal Housing Finance 
Board made methodological changes to the Monthly Mortgage Interest Rate 
Survey that required an adjustment to one or both of the reference 
years, that is, the prior or current year's October calculation (in 
1992, 1998, and 2003). In December 1992, the Enterprises determined 
that the 1993 conforming loan limit would increase 0.42 percent based 
on adjusted FHFB numbers for October 1991 and October 1992 national 
average one-family house price. In November 1998, the Enterprises 
determined that the 1999 conforming mortgage loan limit would increase 
by 5.66 percent based on an adjusted October 1997 house price survey. 
Therefore, in 1992 and again in 1998, the Enterprises used the adjusted 
national average one-family house price(s) provided by the FHFB.
    In 2003, however, the Enterprises adopted a conforming loan limit 
that disregarded communications from the FHFB staff regarding a change 
in the methodology for estimating house prices. The Enterprises 
determined that the rise in the 2004 conforming loan limit would 
increase by 3.41 percent based on unadjusted national average house 
prices for October 2002 and October 2003. However, FHFB staff had 
indicated that the October 2003 national average house price should be 
adjusted downward by $1,647, a net increase of 2.71 percent.
    Due to this inconsistent application of procedures for price 
declines and methodology changes, OFHEO issued a conforming loan limit 
guidance in 2004. To clarify elements of the existing guidance and to 
address the concerns around possible declines in the national average 
house price average, OFHEO announced in late 2006 that it would issue a 
new guidance to replace the 2004 issuance.
    In 2006, the October national house price average declined by 0.16 
percent from the previous October, which by the standard calculation 
would have reduced the maximum single family conforming loan limit from 
$417,000 to $416,300. OFHEO had previously indicated, however, that the 
effect of any decrease in the house price average would be deferred 
until the Fall 2007 calculation of the limits for the following year. 
OFHEO also stated that for the 2008 calculation, the decrease of 0.16 
percent would be deducted from any increase in the average house price 
in the year ended October 2007 or, if the average price decreased, the 
loan limit would decrease by that amount. Left to be determined was how 
a further decline in 2008, if it occurred, would be treated and whether 
any existing loans would be grandfathered. The purpose of this 
guidance, that was subject to public notice and comment between June 20 
and July 19, 2007, is to address these and related issues.

b. Preservation of Existing Authority

    Nothing contained in this guidance prevents OFHEO from undertaking 
such supervisory or enforcement actions as may be necessary to meet its 
statutory obligations to oversee maintenance of safety and soundness 
and adequate capital.

II. Calculation of Conforming Loan Limit

a. General Procedures

    (1) Consistent with statute, OFHEO will utilize the October MIRS 
survey data (routinely released in November) to calculate the 
conforming loan limit for the following calendar year.
    (2) Under the terms of an inter-agency agreement, the FHFB will 
provide OFHEO with the confidential October survey data prior to its 
public release.
    (3) OFHEO will calculate the percentage change in the average house 
price, make any adjustment needed to reflect FHFB technological changes 
and determine the new maximum conforming loan limit for the following 
year. The result of the calculation will be rounded downward, in line 
with existing practice, to the nearest $100, for marketplace 
convenience and administrative simplicity.
    (4) Immediately following the FHFB's October MIRS announcement, 
OFHEO will announce the maximum level of the new conforming loan limit 
and simultaneously issue a letter with its determination to each 
Enterprise.
    (5) Each Enterprise under its charter then determines whether to 
set the conforming loan limit at its institution at or below that 
level.
    (6) The purchase of any mortgage above the limit by Fannie Mae or 
Freddie Mac will be considered an unsafe and unsound practice, running 
contrary to statute.

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b. Procedures for Years in Which the House Price Level Declines

    (1) In a year in which the October house price level is lower than 
the level of the previous October, OFHEO will defer the impact of that 
decline on the conforming loan limit for one full year. [The effect of 
the price level decline of 0.16 percent from October 2005 to October 
2006 was deferred in this manner.]
    (2) After deferring the impact of a decline in the average price 
level for one year:
    (A) If the price level falls in the following year, the latter 
decline will be deferred one year, and the maximum loan limit will be 
adjusted by the decline of the former year;
    (B) If the price level increases the following year, then the prior 
year's decline will be subtracted from such increase; or
    (C) If the procedure in (A) or (B) would result in a decrease for 
any year in the maximum loan limit of less than three percent, that 
decrease will be deferred. In the following year, the amount deferred 
will be netted against any increase, or added to any decrease, that 
would otherwise be determined. If the calculation would result in a 
decrease of less than 3 percent, that decrease also will be deferred 
until fully employed to offset future increases or until the net 
decrease accumulates to 3 percent or more.
    (3) All loans that were within the conforming loan limit at the 
time of origination will continue to be deemed within the conforming 
loan limit during the remaining lives of such loans, regardless of 
whether the loan limit for any subsequent year declines to a level 
below the limit at the time of origination.

c. Procedures for Adjustments and Technical Changes

    (1) At any time during the year after a calculation has been made 
and the conforming loan limit set, if the FHFB revises the MIRS or any 
calculation, the Enterprises may provide comments to the FHFB for its 
consideration. Copies of any Enterprise comments should be provided 
contemporaneously to OFHEO.
    (2) Once the FHFB has determined the nature, scope and timing of 
technical changes or adjustments, OFHEO will make adjustments to the 
next year's conforming loan limit based upon the procedures set forth 
in this Guidance.

III. Appendix

    The following appendix provides examples of how a decline in the 
conforming loan limit would be implemented.

Examples of How Increases and Declines in House Prices Affect the 
Conforming Loan Limit Under OFHEO's Examination Guidance

    The following examples reflect how declines and increases would 
be addressed in future years under the final Examination Guidance: 
Conforming Loan Limit.
    Calculations:
    In 2006, the conforming loan limit was $417,000. In 2006, the 
average house purchase price declined by 0.16 percent and this 
decline was deferred one year until the next calculation in November 
2007 for the 2008 limits. OFHEO determined that declines always 
should be deferred a year and that they should accumulate to a three 
percent threshold before being implemented on the downside.
    In November 2007,
    (a) If the average house purchase price has gone up during the 
year, for example by 2 percent, the deferred decline of 0.16 percent 
would be subtracted, and the new loan limit beginning January 2008 
would show an increase of 1.84 percent.
    (b) If the average house purchase price has gone up during the 
year, for example by 0.10 percent, then the deferred decline would 
offset that 0.10 percent increase and a 0.06 percent% decline would 
be carried forward. The conforming loan limit would remain the same 
at $417,000.
    (c) If the average house purchase price has gone down, the 
conforming loan limit will remain at $417,000 for 2008.
    The deferred decline will be added to the 0.16 percent and 
carried forward until the next calculation in November 2008, as 
follows:
    (i) If the average house purchase price goes up during 2008, the 
conforming loan limit will be calculated per (a) or (b) above with 
the offset being the cumulative deferred decline of 0.16 percent and 
the November 2007 decline;
    (ii) If the average house purchase price goes down during 2008 
and the cumulative deferred decline of 0.16 percent from 2006 and 
the decline from 2007 still total less than 3 percent, the 
conforming loan limit would remain at $417,000 in 2009; or,
    (iii) If the average house purchase price goes down during 2008 
and the cumulative deferred decline of 0.16 percent from 2006 and 
the decline from 2007 totals 3 percent or greater, then the 
conforming loan limit for 2009 will be adjusted downward by the 
2006-2007 cumulative deferred decline.

[FR Doc. E7-20743 Filed 10-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4220-01-P