I’m Michael DiVita — DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655, DiVita Home Finance (DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700), Tiburon, CA. Call (800) 239-1103.
2026 Conforming Loan Limits in California: What Buyers Need to Know
California conforming loan limits determine which loans qualify for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchase — and therefore, which loans receive the most competitive interest rates. Understanding the 2026 limits and how they apply to California’s high-cost counties is essential for buyers optimizing their financing structure.
What Are Conforming Loan Limits?
Conforming loan limits are set annually by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) based on median home price data. Loans at or below these limits can be purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which creates a deep, liquid secondary market and results in the lowest available mortgage rates for borrowers. Loans above the conforming limit are “jumbo” loans — funded by portfolio lenders at higher rates with stricter underwriting. Since 2016, high-cost counties have been eligible for elevated conforming limits (called high-balance or “super conforming” limits) up to 150% of the standard limit, reflecting the reality of expensive coastal markets.
California Conforming Loan Limits for 2026
For 2026, the baseline conforming loan limit for a single-family home is $832,750. High-cost California counties qualify for elevated limits:
San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties: $1,249,125. Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, and Orange counties: $1,209,750. Napa County: $1,017,750. Sonoma County: $977,500. Other high-cost California counties fall between the baseline and these figures based on their FHFA designation.
These high-balance limits mean California buyers in qualifying counties can borrow well over $1M on a single mortgage and still receive conforming (Fannie/Freddie) rates and terms — a significant advantage over true jumbo financing.
Why Conforming Loan Limits Matter for Buyers
Structuring your purchase to stay within the conforming limit — even if it means a slightly larger down payment — can save 0.25%–0.5% in rate. On a $900,000 loan, 0.375% in rate equals approximately $280/month — over $16,000 in the first five years. For buyers purchasing near the high-balance limit, running the math on whether a larger down payment to stay within the conforming box beats a smaller down payment with a jumbo rate is always worth doing. Your broker should present both scenarios side by side.
High-Balance Conforming vs. Jumbo: The Rate Gap
The rate gap between high-balance conforming loans and jumbo loans varies by lender, market conditions, and borrower profile — ranging from minimal to meaningful depending on the competitive environment. Jumbo rates can actually be lower than conforming in periods when jumbo lenders are aggressively competing for high-credit borrowers, which does happen cyclically. Your broker should check the actual rate differential at the time of your purchase — the decision isn’t automatic. The conforming limit is not always the cheaper option, but it usually is, and the analysis should be run before you commit to a loan structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the conforming loan limit in Marin County for 2026?
The 2026 conforming loan limit in Marin County is $1,249,125 for a single-family home. This is the FHFA high-balance limit for Marin, one of California’s highest-cost counties. Loans at or below this amount qualify for Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac purchase and receive conforming interest rates. Loans above $1,249,125 in Marin County are jumbo loans, funded by portfolio lenders with different underwriting standards and typically higher rates.
What is a high-balance conforming loan in California?
A high-balance conforming loan (also called a “super conforming” loan) is a mortgage that exceeds the standard baseline conforming limit ($832,750 in 2026) but stays within a county’s elevated high-balance limit. These loans still qualify for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchase, meaning they carry conforming rates and terms even though their balance is well above the national baseline. High-balance conforming is the ideal loan type for most Bay Area purchases — it provides Fannie/Freddie pricing on loan amounts up to $1,209,750–$1,249,125 depending on county.
Should I put more down to stay under the conforming limit?
Sometimes yes — it depends on the size of the rate gap between conforming and jumbo at the time of your purchase, and how much additional down payment is required. Your mortgage broker should run both scenarios: the larger down payment needed to drop below the conforming limit versus the jumbo rate on the smaller down payment. On Bay Area loan amounts, even a 0.25% rate difference can justify a meaningful additional down payment if you plan to keep the loan for several years. Ask your broker to model both options before deciding.
Talk to Michael Directly
DiVita Home Finance | Tiburon, CA | Licensed since 2007. Michael DiVita DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655. Company DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700.
💬 Text: (310) 849-9124
