2026 Conforming Loan Limits
For 2026 the baseline conforming loan limit rises to $832,750 for a one-unit home — the most you can borrow with a conventional loan that Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac will buy. In high-cost areas the one-unit ceiling reaches $1,249,125. Loans above the limit are "jumbo".
Below are the full 2026 baseline and high-cost limits by unit count, the 2025 figures for comparison, and how conforming, high-balance and jumbo loans differ.
2026 conforming loan limits
The baseline applies in most of the country. High-cost areas — where median home prices are high — use a ceiling of 150% of the baseline.
| Units | Baseline (most areas) | High-cost ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 unit | $832,750 | $1,249,125 |
| 2 units | $1,066,250 | $1,599,375 |
| 3 units | $1,288,800 | $1,933,200 |
| 4 units | $1,601,750 | $2,402,625 |
2025 vs 2026 baseline
The one-unit baseline rose 3.26% for 2026 — $26,250 higher than 2025.
| Units | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 unit | $806,500 | $832,750 |
| 2 units | $1,032,650 | $1,066,250 |
| 3 units | $1,248,150 | $1,288,800 |
| 4 units | $1,551,250 | $1,601,750 |
High-cost and special areas
Counties where 115% of the median home price tops the baseline get a higher limit, up to the 150% ceiling ($1,249,125 for one unit in 2026). Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands use that ceiling as their baseline. Check your county on the FHFA limit map.
How the baseline is set each year
Under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA), the FHFA raises the baseline limit each year by the same percentage that average U.S. home prices rose — measured by its House Price Index from the third quarter of one year to the next. Prices rose 3.26% over that window, so the 2026 baseline climbed from $806,500 to $832,750.
Conforming vs high-balance vs jumbo
A conforming loan is at or below the baseline. A high-balance (or "super-conforming") loan is between the baseline and the high-cost ceiling — still Fannie/Freddie-eligible, often at a slightly higher rate. A jumbo loan exceeds the ceiling and is not government-backed, so it usually needs stronger credit and a larger down payment. See what you can afford with the required-income calculator.
What is a conforming loan?
A conforming loan is a conventional mortgage that meets Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac standards — including a loan amount within the FHFA limit — so the two agencies can buy it. That secondary-market demand is what keeps conforming rates lower than jumbo rates.
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit?
For 2026 the baseline one-unit limit is $832,750, up from $806,500 in 2025. In high-cost areas the one-unit ceiling is $1,249,125. Multi-unit properties have higher limits.
What is a conforming loan?
A conforming loan is a conventional mortgage within the FHFA loan limit that meets Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rules, so they can buy it. That keeps conforming interest rates lower than jumbo rates.
What is a jumbo loan?
A jumbo loan exceeds the conforming limit — above $832,750 in most 2026 areas, or above $1,249,125 in high-cost areas. Because it is not agency-backed, it usually requires stronger credit and a bigger down payment.
Did conforming loan limits increase for 2026?
Yes. The baseline one-unit limit rose 3.26%, from $806,500 in 2025 to $832,750 in 2026, reflecting higher national home prices.
What are conforming limits in high-cost areas?
High-cost areas use a ceiling of 150% of the baseline — $1,249,125 for one unit in 2026. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands use that ceiling as their standard limit.
How are conforming loan limits set each year?
Under HERA, the FHFA raises the baseline by the percentage that average U.S. home prices rose, using its House Price Index from one third quarter to the next. For 2026 that increase was 3.26%.