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Lately, millennials in Washington State and across the country have been choosing conventional home loans more than FHA-insured mortgage loans. This article will explain why.
A recent industry report showed that the majority of all closed loans by millennial borrowers are conventional (or non-FHA) mortgages. That was the highest percentage in two years, signaling a temporary shift in loan preference among this age group.
The mortgage software company Ellie Mae maintains a “Millennial Tracker” that monitors home loan trends for this particular demographic. For tracking purposes, they define a millennial as people born between the years of 1980 and 1999.
The company’s latest report revealed that roughly three-quarters of millennials (74%) who took out a mortgage to buy a house opted for a conventional loan, as opposed to using the FHA program. Compare that to 21% of millennials who took out an FHA loan to make a home purchase, and 2% for VA loans.
Check out our mortgage loan limit tool for conventional, FHA, and VA loans, as well as the 2023 conventional loan limits for Washington State.
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In the past, the FHA program was more widely used among home buyers in this particular age group. The Federal Housing Administration’s mortgage insurance program offers some noteworthy benefits for borrowers, including a relatively low down payment (3.5%) and flexible qualification criteria.
Lately, however, it appears that more millennials in Washington State and nationwide are turning to conventional home loans. Of course, this trend could reverse itself in the months ahead.
The reasons for this recent shift are unclear. A senior executive with Ellie Mae suspects it might be because the requirements for a conventional loan have eased over the years, allowing more millennial borrowers to qualify for financing.
“Historically we have seen Millennials look to FHA programs to help address their homebuying needs,” said Joe Tyrrell, an executive vice president at Ellie Mae. “But in the past two months, FHA loans have represented less than 30 percent of the total loans for Millennials. We view this as an indication that more Millennials are qualifying for conventional mortgages.”
Related: Seattle millennials use FHA financing
Are you looking to apply for a Washington mortgage? If so, we can help. At Sammamish Mortgage, we offer a wide variety of mortgage programs and tools with flexible qualification criteria, including our Diamond Homebuyer Program, Cash Buyer Program, and Bridge Loans. We have been serving the entire state since 1992, as well as the broader Pacific Northwest region that includes WA, OR, ID, and CO. Please contact us today with any financing-related questions you have.
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
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No Obligation and transparency 24/7. Instantly compare live rates and costs from our network of lenders across the country. Real-time accurate rates and closing costs for a variety of loan programs custom to your specific situation.