2026 Conforming Loan Limits: $832,750 Baseline, Explained

Short answer: for 2026, FHFA set the baseline conforming loan limit at $832,750 for a one-unit home in most U.S. counties. In designated high-cost counties the one-unit limit can reach $1,249,125. Loans above your county's limit are generally treated as jumbo loans.

The 2026 limits at a glance

FHFA announced the 2026 conforming loan limit values on 2025-11-25, effective for loans delivered to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac starting 2026-01-01. The baseline limits below apply in most U.S. counties, taken from FHFA's official 2026 county file:

• One-unit home: $832,750
• Two-unit home: $1,066,250
• Three-unit home: $1,288,800
• Four-unit home: $1,601,750

In designated high-cost counties the one-unit limit is higher, up to a ceiling of $1,249,125. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands follow separate statutory rules with higher limits.

Check the exact limit for your county

The limit that applies to you depends on the county where the property is located, not where you live now. Use the 2026 county loan limit lookup to see one- to four-unit limits for any county, or browse 2026 conforming loan limits by state. If you already know your loan amount, the jumbo vs conforming classifier shows which side of the line it falls on.

What a conforming loan limit is

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) sets the maximum loan size that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy each year. A conventional mortgage at or below the applicable limit is a conforming loan. A loan above it is generally called a jumbo, or non-conforming, loan and is handled under separate lender or investor guidelines. Learn more in our guide to how conventional loan limits work.

Why the limit matters for buyers and homeowners

The limit does not set your price or decide whether you qualify. It decides which set of rules your loan is likely to follow. Near the limit, documentation, reserve and down payment expectations can differ depending on whether the loan is conforming or jumbo. Some buyers adjust their down payment to stay under their county's limit; whether that makes sense depends on your savings, goals and full scenario.

What the limit does not tell you

The FHFA figure is not a rate, APR, payment, approval or commitment to lend. Lenders may add their own requirements, and mortgage insurance rules still apply. Compare conventional loan requirements and down payment options before deciding, and talk with a licensed loan officer about your specific situation.

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

• Conforming Loan Limit Values — Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) (2026 limits announced 2025-11-25; effective 2026-01-01)
• FHFA Announces Conforming Loan Limit Values for 2026 — Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) (2025-11-25)

Published 2026-07-29.

Last updated 2026-09-25. This timestamp is not evidence of human review. Educational only — not a rate quote, approval, or commitment to lend.