Quick answer
The conforming loan limit is the maximum original loan amount Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may buy, set each year by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). For 2026 it is $832,750 for a one-unit home in most counties and up to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas.
Key facts
How FHFA sets the number
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) ties the baseline to the change in average US home prices measured by FHFA. The 2026 baseline is $26,250 above the 2025 figure of $806,500, an increase of about 3.3%. Counties with high median home values get a higher limit, capped at 150% of the baseline. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the US Virgin Islands have their own higher limits, and limits for two- to four-unit properties are higher too.
What the limit decides
A loan above your county’s limit is a jumbo loan, with each lender’s own rules and pricing. The cap is on the loan amount, not the price, so a larger down payment can keep a pricier home within it. Other programs borrow the figure: the 2026 FHA loan floor of $541,287 is 65% of the baseline, and VA entitlement for buyers with a VA loan still outstanding is based on the county limit. The jumbo loans guide covers what changes above the line.
Related terms
Sources
- FHFA — 2026 baseline conforming loan limit (one-unit); 2025 baseline conforming loan limit (one-unit); 2026 high-cost area conforming ceiling (one-unit) (2026 limit)
- HUD — 2026 FHA loan limit floor (one-unit, low-cost areas) (2026 limit)
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