Federal Housing Administration mortgages may be tougher to get come October in some metro areas – but limits on reverse mortgage will remain the same.

The Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) conforming loan limits on both forward and reverse mortgages were raised in 2008 in response to the financial crisis, making it easier to obtain FHA loans in more expensive metro areas – allowing loans up to $729,750 in some areas.

The limits for forward mortgages are set to drop back this October. In most areas, the new limit will be 115 percent of the median price, with a maximum of $625,000.

Reverse mortgages will keep their higher limit, $625,500 for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, through the end of the year. HUD alerted lenders to the policy in a letter sent Friday afternoon.

The move is welcome news to the beleaguered reverse industry, which has seen several major lenders pull out of the market entirely in recent months.

Bills have been introduced in Congress which would extend the higher limits for all loans but they have yet to be voted on.