For a one-unit home, the 2026 conforming loan baseline is $832,750 in most U.S. counties. Higher county limits can apply. The usual high-cost ceiling is $1,249,125; Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have a separate $1,249,125 baseline. These are mortgage amounts, not purchase prices. FHFA 2026 announcement.
2026 limits by property size
| Units | Contiguous states, DC and Puerto Rico | Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and US Virgin Islands |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $832,750 | $1,249,125 |
| 2 | $1,066,250 | $1,599,375 |
| 3 | $1,288,800 | $1,933,200 |
| 4 | $1,601,750 | $2,402,625 |
These are baselines, not every county's final limit. Check the county loan-limit lookup with the unit count, or browse limits by state. Fannie Mae's 2026 limit tables show the unit-size baselines. Use the jumbo vs. conforming classifier to compare a loan amount with the limit for its county and unit count.
High-cost ceiling versus your county limit
FHFA gives the special statutory areas a one-unit ceiling of $1,873,675. That ceiling is not available in every county. Fannie Mae's county tables show Hawaii's highest one-unit county limit at $1,299,500 and no high-cost county above the special baseline in Alaska, Guam or the US Virgin Islands. Use the county lookup for a specific property.
A larger down payment can change both the loan classification and the cash remaining for reserves. Compare the down-payment trade-offs after finding the applicable county limit.
Who this may fit
Anyone shopping in a market where price levels approach or exceed the standard conforming limit, or purchasing in a high-cost county.
Key decision factors
- Whether the loan amount falls within the county's conforming limit
- Whether a high-balance / high-cost county limit applies
- Whether the actual county limit differs from the standard baseline
Illustrative example
Common mistakes
- Assuming national headlines about loan limits apply to every county
- Missing high-balance thresholds in high-cost areas
- Assuming a purchase price above the baseline always requires a jumbo loan
Questions to ask a licensed loan officer
- What is the applicable conforming limit for my county this year?
- Which county and unit-count limit applies to this property?
- Are there structural options (second lien, larger down payment) that keep me in conforming?
Common questions
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit?
FHFA set the 2026 baseline limit for a one-unit property at $832,750 in most U.S. counties. Higher limits apply in designated high-cost areas and in certain statutory jurisdictions. Look up your county with our lookup tool.
What happens if my loan is above the limit?
A loan above your county's conforming limit is generally a jumbo loan. Jumbo loans are not eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and follow each lender's own rules and pricing.
Why are limits higher for 2–4 unit properties?
FHFA publishes separate limits for one-, two-, three-, and four-unit properties. Limits rise with the number of units.
How often do conforming loan limits change?
FHFA announces new limits each year based on changes in home prices. You can see this year's changes county by county in our 2025-to-2026 research page.
Choose your next step
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Sources
Primary sources relied on for this page. Check scope varies by entry; a source check is not a licensed or human compliance review.
- Conforming Loan Limit ValuesFederal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) · Status: Verified (see check notes) · Published/effective: 2026 limits announced 2025-11-25; effective 2026-01-01 · Last checked: 2026-07-28
What was checked
FHFA current conforming loan limit data page. 2026 baseline one-unit limit $832,750; high-cost area ceiling $1,249,125 per FHFA announcement dated 2025-11-25 (https://www.fhfa.gov/news/news-release/fhfa-announces-conforming-loan-limit-values-for-2026).
- FHFA Announces Conforming Loan Limit Values for 2026Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) · Status: Verified (see check notes) · Published/effective: 2025-11-25 · Last checked: 2026-09-25
What was checked
Checked the 2026 one-unit baseline of $832,750, ordinary high-cost ceiling of $1,249,125, and special statutory baseline of $1,249,125 and ceiling of $1,873,675. Statutory ceilings are not the actual limit in every county. Editorial source check only; not a licensed human or compliance review.
- Fannie Mae — 2026 Loan LimitsFannie Mae · Status: Verified (see check notes) · Published/effective: unverified · Last checked: 2026-09-25
What was checked
Checked the one- through four-unit baseline table, Hawaii's actual highest one-unit county limit of $1,299,500, and the absence of high-cost areas above the special baseline in Alaska, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Editorial source check only; not a licensed human or compliance review.
Related guides and calculators
- 2026 County Loan Limit Lookup
Look up the official 2026 FHFA conforming loan limits for one-, two-, three-, and four-unit properties in any US county or territory.
- Jumbo vs Conforming Loan Classifier (2026)
Deterministic 2026 classifier: enter a loan amount, county, and unit count to see conforming, high-balance, or jumbo classification against official FHFA limits.
- 2026 Conforming Loan Limits by State
Browse the official 2026 FHFA conforming loan limits for every US state, DC, and territory, with correct standard-baseline, special statutory baseline, and high-cost classifications.
- What Is a Conventional Loan?
A plain-English explanation of conventional loans: how they work, who they may fit, and key decision factors.
- Conventional Loan Down Payment: 3% Programs and Cash to Close
Compare eligible conventional 3% down programs, cash to close, mortgage insurance and reserves with scoped examples.
- Methodology
Source hierarchy, update cadence, calculator formulas, review standards, correction workflow, and the boundary between education and a mortgage offer.