Senate Panel Backs Bigger FHA Loans

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted unanimously last week to raise the cap on FHA-backed mortgage loans.

Following subcommittee approval earlier in the week, the committee voted Thursday to boost the ceiling on mortgages that may be insured under the FHA program to $197,490 in high-cost areas and to $108,960 in low-cost housing markets.

That fell short of the $227,150 nationwide loan limit sought by the Clinton administration but would significantly lift the current ceilings, which range from $86,317 in low-cost markets to $170,362 in high-cost communities.

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