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Loan limits

2026 baseline conforming loan limit: what changed and why it matters

The Federal Housing Finance Agency sets the annual conforming loan limit that separates conforming conventional loans from jumbo territory. For 2026, the baseline one-unit limit is $832,750 and the high-cost ceiling is $1,249,125.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) publishes the annual conforming loan limit that determines whether a conventional mortgage is a conforming loan eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or a non-conforming jumbo loan. Loans at or below the applicable limit are broadly considered conforming, while loans above the applicable limit generally fall outside standard conforming eligibility and are treated as jumbo by most lenders.

What changed for 2026 On 2025-11-25 the FHFA announced the 2026 conforming loan limit values. The baseline one-unit limit rose to $832,750, and the high-cost area ceiling rose to $1,249,125. These values apply to one-unit properties; higher tiers apply for two-to-four unit properties and for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The full county-level table is published by FHFA and should be consulted for any specific address, because high-cost designations vary by county.

Why the figure matters The conforming loan limit does not set the price of a loan. It draws a line between two very different pricing and eligibility ecosystems: conforming conventional loans priced against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines on one side, and jumbo loans priced by individual investors and portfolio lenders on the other. Borrowers near the limit sometimes face materially different qualification, documentation, and reserve expectations depending on which side of the line their loan falls on.

What this does not tell you The FHFA figure does not promise a specific rate, APR, monthly payment, approval, preapproval, or closing timeline. It also does not override lender overlays or mortgage-insurance requirements. Borrowers should confirm the applicable limit for the property county and discuss the practical implications with a licensed loan officer.

How to check your county Use the FHFA conforming loan limit page to look up the applicable one-unit limit for the property county. If the property is in a high-cost county, the applicable limit may exceed the baseline and reach up to the high-cost ceiling.

Assumptions

The one-unit baseline and high-cost ceiling apply to properties in the contiguous United States for standard one-unit designations. County-level and multi-unit values may differ; consult the FHFA county table.

Methodology

Figures were taken directly from the FHFA news release dated 2025-11-25 and the FHFA conforming loan limit data page. No estimates or third-party data were introduced.

Primary sources

Last reviewed 2026-07-29. Educational only — not a rate quote, approval, or commitment to lend.