Home-buying laws & mortgage updates
Plain-English updates on federal mortgage rules from FHFA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA and VA, for small landlords and home buyers.
Every item cites an official source (FHFA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD or VA) and the date we checked it. Last checked Oct 22, 2026.
Latest updates
Oct 22, 2026 Announced, not yet in official guidance
Executive order directs FHFA to pilot automatic mortgage insurance cancellation
Oct 1, 2026 Official, in effect
Sept 16, 2026 Official, in effect
Fannie Mae servicers may contact borrowers about dropping PMI
Sept 9, 2026 Official, in effect
Jan 1, 2026 Official, in effect
FHA 2026 loan limits: $541,287 floor, $1,249,125 ceiling (1 unit)
Jan 1, 2026 Official, in effect
Nov 16, 2025 Official, in effect
Topics
Conforming loan limits (2026)
The biggest loan Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will buy in 2026, for 1 to 4 unit homes, and what it means for your down payment.
Read →Credit score & DTI rules
No more 620 floor for Desktop Underwriter loans, VantageScore 4.0 for every lender, and one pricing grid for both scores.
Read →Multi-unit & investor rules
House hacking a duplex to fourplex with 5% down, and what investment property pricing really costs.
Read →FHA loan limits & MIP
How big an FHA loan can be in 2026, and what FHA mortgage insurance costs.
Read →Dropping mortgage insurance
If your home has gone up in value, your loan servicer can now tell you that you may be able to drop PMI.
Read →VA funding fee
The one-time fee on VA-backed purchase loans and how your down payment changes it.
Read →How we label updates
Official, in effect means it is in an official FHFA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD or VA document. Announced, not yet in official guidance means it was announced, for example on X or in a White House release, but the agency rules haven't been issued yet.
General information only. Not legal, tax or financial advice. RentToolkit is not a lender, law firm or financial adviser. Mortgage rules change often and lenders can add stricter rules of their own ("overlays"), so confirm with the official source and a licensed loan officer before you act.