Freddie Mac to buy jumbos from four top lenders

NEW YORK, April 17 (Reuters) - Freddie Mac (FRE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday that it will buy jumbo mortgages in high cost regions from four of the largest U.S. mortgage lenders.

Freddie Mac said in a press release that it will purchase conforming jumbo loans from Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N: Quote, Profile, Research), JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N: Quote, Profile, Research), Citigroup Inc (C.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Washington Mutual WM.N.

The home financing company said it expects to finance "between $10 and $15 billion" in new jumbo mortgages in 2008.