Every November, federal regulators reset the maximum loan sizes for government-backed mortgages, and the 2026 numbers are now in effect. If your target loan amount was just above last year's cutoffs, these increases may move you from jumbo pricing back into conventional territory.

The 2026 numbers

  • Conforming baseline (one-unit): $832,750, up $26,250 from 2025. This is the maximum Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will back in most U.S. counties.
  • Conforming high-cost ceiling: $1,249,125 in designated high-cost areas such as much of coastal California, the New York metro, and Washington, D.C.
  • FHA floor: $541,287 for single-family homes in low-cost counties, up from $524,225.
  • FHA ceiling / HECM maximum claim amount: $1,249,125, effective for FHA case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2026.

The increases track home-price appreciation: the FHFA's index showed prices up 3.26% between the third quarters of 2024 and 2025, so the limits rose by the same percentage. The official announcements are on FHFA.gov and HUD.gov.

Why the limits matter

Conforming vs. jumbo pricing. Loans within conforming limits are eligible for purchase by Fannie and Freddie, which generally means broader lender competition and easier qualification than jumbo loans. A borrower who needed an $820,000 loan was jumbo in 2025 and is conforming in 2026 — same house, different rules.

FHA reach. The higher FHA floor extends low-down-payment FHA financing to more of the market in typical-cost counties. FHA limits vary by county between the floor and ceiling, so check your county's exact figure before assuming.

Reverse mortgages. The HECM maximum claim amount rising to $1,249,125 means owners of higher-value homes can base a reverse mortgage on more of their home's value. More on that in our complete reverse mortgage guide.

Practical next steps

If you shopped for a mortgage in late 2025 and priced as jumbo, it is worth re-quoting under the 2026 limits. And because lender pricing varies widely even within the same loan category, compare current offers side by side — start with today's rates and see rates in your state.