Lenders are jumping back into creating fixed-rate jumbo mortgages since the risks involved are now substantially lower, an article in MarketWatch claims.
Previously, fixed-rate jumbo mortgages were nonexistent because of the high risk of borrowers defaulting.
However, since real estate is rebounding, the secondary market is returning, MarketWatch says.
As a result, lenders are more willing to offer fixed rates because packaging the loans into mortgage-backed securities that are sold to investors can lessen the risk for lenders.
Interest rates for 30-year, fixed-rate jumbo mortgages were 3.87% on May 10, significantly lower than 4.63% in April 2012, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.