Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK: mortgages, home buyers & loan limits
What buyers in Fairbanks North Star Borough actually borrowed, earned and paid in 2025, from the official Home Mortgage Disclosure Act records — plus the 2026 conforming and FHA loan limits.
HMDA 2025 data released June 23, 2026 · Loan limits for calendar year 2026
In 2025, lenders reported 1,021 home-purchase mortgages for owner-occupied, single-family homes in Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK. The median buyer borrowed $335,000 on a home valued at $365,000 and reported a household income of $119,000.
Buyers financed a median 96.5% of the home's value (roughly 3.5% down), paid a median 6.50% on 30-year fixed conventional loans and faced median conventional loan costs of $4,720.
Lenders denied 4.4% of completed home-purchase applications.
Key facts about Fairbanks North Star Borough mortgages
- The median 30-year fixed conventional rate here was 13 basis points below the U.S. median (6.625%).
- Median conventional loan costs ($4,720) were 15% lower than the U.S. median ($5,570).
- VA loans were unusually common: 41.2% of purchase mortgages.
- 17.7% of buyers put at least 20% down (financed 80% or less), compared with 38.5% nationally.
- The most common age bracket among borrowers was 25–34 (39.9% of purchase loans).
- 55.8% of purchase mortgages had a single borrower with no co-applicant.
- The most-cited reason for denial was collateral (appraisal/property) (20.0% of denials with a stated reason).
National rank among 1,994 counties with at least 100 purchase loans: median income of home buyers 375th · median home-purchase loan 431st · median conventional loan costs 1000th · purchase application denial rate 1893rd. See rankings.
2026 loan limits in Fairbanks North Star Borough
| Property | Conforming 2026 | vs 2025 | FHA 2026 | vs 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 unit | $1,249,125 | +$39,375 | $541,287 | +$17,062 |
| 2 units | $1,599,375 | +$50,400 | $693,050 | +$21,850 |
| 3 units | $1,933,200 | +$60,975 | $837,700 | +$26,425 |
| 4 units | $2,402,625 | +$75,750 | $1,041,125 | +$32,825 |
2026 limits for Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK: conforming (Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac) from FHFA; FHA forward-mortgage limits from HUD. FHA limit is at the national floor for low-cost areas. Loans above the conforming limit are "jumbo" loans.
All Alaska counties: Alaska 2026 loan limits. FHFA and HUD normally announce the next year's limits in late November.
Who bought homes in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Home-purchase mortgages for owner-occupied, single-family (1–4 unit) site-built homes, first liens, originated in 2025.
Values are medians; "middle half" is the 25th to 75th percentile.
Loan type
What the homes were for
All first-lien, closed-end purchase mortgages, including second homes and investors.
Borrower age
Debt-to-income ratio
Monthly debts (including the new payment) as a share of income, as used in underwriting.
What borrowing cost in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Medians for 2025 home-purchase loans. Total loan costs are section D of the Loan Estimate/Closing Disclosure (lender and third-party loan charges, excluding taxes, prepaids and escrow). FHA and VA costs include the upfront mortgage insurance premium or VA funding fee, so compare like with like.
| Measure | Fairbanks North Star Borough | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-year fixed rate · conventional | 6.500% | 6.500% | 6.625% |
| 30-year fixed rate · FHA | 6.250% | 6.250% | 6.250% |
| 30-year fixed rate · VA | 6.250% | 6.125% | 6.125% |
| 15-year fixed rate · conventional | — | 5.875% | 5.875% |
| Rate spread vs. APOR · conventional | +0.14 pts | +0.06 pts | +0.13 pts |
| Total loan costs · conventional | $4,720 | $5,740 | $5,570 |
| Total loan costs · FHA | $9,970 | $11,680 | $11,310 |
| Total loan costs · VA | $9,400 | $8,760 | $6,490 |
| Origination charges (all loan types) | $1,770 | $2,480 | $1,860 |
| Borrowers paying discount points | 63.8% | 62.6% | 51.3% |
| Points paid, when paid (% of loan) | 0.63% | 0.75% | 0.87% |
| Borrowers receiving lender credits | 31.8% | 27.4% | 33.1% |
| Adjustable-rate mortgages | 1.1% | 3.9% | 7.4% |
| Jumbo loans (above conforming limit) | 0.0% | 0.2% | 3.8% |
Medians are shown only when at least 30 loans report the field. Rates are those reported at closing; market rates changed during 2025, which the rate spread (APR minus the average prime offer rate on the lock date) adjusts for.
Approvals and denials
Fairbanks North Star Borough: 48 of 1,092 completed home-purchase applications were denied (4.4%).
Denial rate
| Application | Fairbanks North Star Borough | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home purchase | 4.4% | 5.7% | 8.5% |
| Conventional | 3.9% | 5.5% | 7.1% |
| FHA | 3.3% | 7.5% | 12.5% |
| VA | 5.3% | 4.7% | 8.0% |
| USDA | — | 18.3% | 12.5% |
| Refinance | 24.3% | 17.6% | 17.9% |
| Cash-out refinance | 38.9% | 37.1% | 33.6% |
Main reason for purchase denials
First reason the lender reported.
Denial rate = denied ÷ (originated + approved but not accepted + denied). Withdrawn and incomplete applications are excluded. Differences between places reflect who applies, not only lender behavior.
Refinancing in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Top mortgage lenders in Fairbanks North Star Borough
70 lenders originated at least one home-purchase or refinance loan here in 2025. The table ranks them by loan count; pricing columns compare conventional purchase loans only.
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Denial rate | 30-yr rate* | Spread* | Costs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newrez LLC | 313 | 24.4% | 0.4% | 6.625% | +0.33 | $4,720 |
| 2 | Global Federal Credit Union | 125 | 9.7% | 5.8% | 6.375% | −0.06 | $4,540 |
| 3 | Veterans United Home Loans | 111 | 8.6% | 5.1% | — | — | — |
| 4 | Mt. McKinley Bank | 99 | 7.7% | 3.2% | — | — | — |
| 5 | Residential Mortgage, LLC | 87 | 6.8% | 2.4% | 6.250% | −0.01 | — |
| 6 | Denali State Bank | 78 | 6.1% | 0.0% | — | — | — |
| 7 | Rocket Mortgage, LLC | 45 | 3.5% | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Cornerstone Capital Bank, SSB | 35 | 2.7% | 0.0% | — | — | — |
| 9 | Guild Mortgage Company | 30 | 2.3% | 0.0% | — | — | — |
| 10 | Freedom Mortgage Corporation | 30 | 2.3% | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | CrossCountry Mortgage, Inc. | 28 | 2.2% | 0.0% | — | — | — |
| 12 | The Loan Store, Inc. | 24 | 1.9% | 0.0% | — | — | — |
| 13 | United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) | 21 | 1.6% | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Spirit of Alaska | 18 | 1.4% | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Navy Federal Credit Union | 17 | 1.3% | 20.0% | — | — | — |
| 16 | USAA Federal Savings Bank | 17 | 1.3% | 27.3% | — | — | — |
| 17 | Movement Mortgage, LLC | 16 | 1.3% | — | — | — | — |
| 18 | Pennymac Loan Services, LLC | 15 | 1.2% | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | loanDepot.com, LLC | 11 | 0.9% | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | 9 | 0.7% | — | — | — | — |
| 21 | Armed Forces Bank, N.A. | 8 | 0.6% | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC | 8 | 0.6% | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | New Day Financial, LLC | 8 | 0.6% | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | Plaza Home Mortgage, Inc. | 7 | 0.5% | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | The Federal Savings Bank | 6 | 0.5% | — | — | — | — |
Lenders in Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK. Loans = home-purchase, refinance and cash-out originations (2025); share = share of those loans here; denial rate = home-purchase applications. *Medians for conventional home-purchase loans, shown with at least 20 loans; spread = APR minus the average prime offer rate at rate lock (percentage points); costs = total loan costs (section D).
Check a quote for Fairbanks North Star Borough
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Compare your origination charges and total loan costs with 2025 loans of the same type and size in Alaska and Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Monthly payment calculator
Principal, interest, property tax (1.19% typical effective rate here) and insurance, with Fairbanks North Star Borough defaults.
Typical effective property-tax rate 1.19% = median real estate taxes ÷ median home value, U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates.
Nearby counties
| County | Distance | Purchase loans | Median loan | Buyer income | Conforming limit | FHA limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK | 113 mi | 84 | $315,000 | $107,000 | $1,249,125 | $541,287 |
| Denali Borough, AK | 126 mi | 10 | — | — | $1,249,125 | $541,287 |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK | 156 mi | 3 | — | — | $1,249,125 | $541,287 |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK | 190 mi | 1,612 | $395,000 | $120,000 | $1,249,125 | $541,287 |
| Copper River Census Area, AK | 199 mi | 11 | — | — | $1,249,125 | $541,287 |
| Anchorage Municipality, AK | 257 mi | 2,828 | $385,000 | $123,000 | $1,249,125 | $541,287 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Fairbanks North Star Borough?
$1,249,125 for a one-unit home (FHFA). Two- to four-unit limits are $1,599,375, $1,933,200, $2,402,625. Loans above the limit are jumbo loans and are not eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
What is the 2026 FHA loan limit in Fairbanks North Star Borough?
$541,287 for a one-unit home (HUD). This is the national floor for low-cost areas.
How much do home buyers in Fairbanks North Star Borough earn?
The median household income reported on 2025 home-purchase mortgages was $119,000; the middle half of buyers reported $90,000 to $159,000.
What mortgage rate did buyers in Fairbanks North Star Borough get in 2025?
The median rate on 30-year fixed conventional purchase loans was 6.50%; FHA borrowers paid a median 6.25%. These are rates locked during 2025; check today's rates with several lenders.
How often are mortgage applications denied in Fairbanks North Star Borough?
4.4% of completed home-purchase applications were denied in 2025; the most common stated reason was collateral (appraisal/property).
Sources: FFIEC/CFPB HMDA 2025 public loan/application register (Snapshot as of June 1, 2026); FHFA 2026 conforming loan limits; HUD 2026 FHA forward-mortgage limits; U.S. Census Bureau. Figures describe typical 2025 loans, not your offer. Methodology