$548,250 for single-family homes in our market area. The maximum conforming loan limits as established by Fannie Mae will increase to $647,200 for the year ended December 31, 2022. We sell, on both a servicing-released and servicing-retained basis, our conforming and eligible jumbo fixed-rate
one-
to four-family residential real estate loans. We also originate loans above the lending limit for conforming loans, which are referred to as “jumbo loans” that we may retain in our portfolio. Jumbo loans that we originate typically have 15 to 30 year terms and maximum
ratios of 80%. At December 31, 2021, we had $3.6 million in jumbo loans, which represented 4.4% of our
one-
to four-family residential real estate loans. Our average loan size for jumbo loans was approximately $426,700 at December 31, 2021. Generally, all of our
one-
to four-family residential real estate loans are secured by properties located in southeastern Wisconsin.
We generally limit the
ratios of our mortgage loans without private mortgage insurance to 80% of the sales price or appraised value, whichever is lower. Loans where the borrower obtains private mortgage insurance may be made in excess of this limit.
Our adjustable-rate
one-
to four-family residential real estate loans carry terms to maturity ranging from 10 to 30 years and generally have fixed rates for initial terms of five years. We also offer an initial term of seven years, which adjusts annually thereafter at a margin, which in recent years has been tied to a margin above the applicable U.S. Treasury rate.
The maximum amount by which the interest rate may be increased or decreased is generally 2% per adjustment period, with a lifetime interest rate cap of generally 6% over the initial interest rate of the loan and a rate floor. We typically hold in our loan portfolio our adjustable-rate
one-
to four-family residential real estate loans.
Although adjustable-rate mortgage loans may reduce to an extent our vulnerability to changes in market interest rates because they periodically
re-price,
as interest rates increase the required payments due from the borrower also increase (subject to rate caps), increasing the potential for default by the borrower. At the same time, the ability of the borrower to repay the loan and the marketability of the underlying collateral may be adversely affected by higher interest rates. Upward adjustments of the contractual interest rate are also limited by our maximum periodic and lifetime rate adjustments.
Moreover, the interest rates on most of our adjustable-rate loans do not adjust for up to five years after origination. As a result, the effectiveness of adjustable-rate mortgage loans in compensating for changes in general interest rates may be limited during periods of rapidly rising interest rates.
We do not offer “interest only” mortgage loans on permanent
one-
to four-family residential real estate loans (where the borrower pays interest for an initial period, after which the loan converts to a fully amortizing loan). We also do not offer loans that provide for negative amortization of principal, such as “Option ARM” loans, where the borrower can pay less than the interest owed on the loan, resulting in an increased principal balance during the life of the loan. We do not have a “subprime lending” program for
one-
to four-family residential real estate loans (
, loans that generally target borrowers with weakened credit histories).
Generally, residential mortgage loans that we originate include
clauses, which give us the right to declare a loan immediately due and payable in the event that, among other things, the borrower sells or otherwise disposes of the real property subject to the mortgage and the loan is not repaid. All borrowers are required to obtain title insurance for the benefit of PyraMax Bank. We also require homeowner’s insurance and fire and casualty insurance and, where circumstances warrant, flood insurance on properties securing real estate loans.
Residential Real Estate Construction Lending
. We originate loans to finance the construction of single-family residential properties to prospective homeowners for their primary residence. At December 31, 2021, residential construction loan balances were $3.4 million, or 1.0% of our total loan portfolio, with an additional $6.5 million available to these borrowers. The majority of these loans are secured by properties located in our primary market area.
Our owner occupied
one-
to four-family residential construction loans are generally structured as interest-only for 12 months. Construction loan values for
one-to
four-family residential properties generally will not exceed 80% during the construction phase of the mortgage, however, if private mortgage insurance is obtained, we will consider
limits up to 95%.
Once the construction project is satisfactorily completed, generally within 12 months, the loan will convert to an amortizing loan for the remaining term of the loan. Upon completion the loan will be evaluated for sale on the secondary market. The interest rate is generally a fixed rate for up to 30 years, or a five- to seven-year adjustable-rate mortgage.
Before making a commitment to fund a construction loan, we generally require an appraisal of the property by an independent licensed appraiser. The construction phase is carefully monitored to minimize our risk. All construction projects must be completed in accordance with approved plans and approved by the municipality in which they are located. Loan proceeds are disbursed periodically in increments as construction progresses and as inspections by our approved inspector’s warrant.