Homes in and around South Bayview are worth plenty. And now the federal government is concerned that many of us are levering these desirable houses a little too much. They have made new rules, in effect today, which limit home equity loans up to a maximum of 80% of a property’s value — down from 85%. The maximum amortization period also drops to 25 years from 30 years — giving borrowers less time to repay the debt in full.