I’m Michael DiVita (DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655), owner of DiVita Home Finance (DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700) in Tiburon, CA. I’ve been in California mortgage lending since 2000 and founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. I’m known as a creative mortgage broker: when a bank says no, I find the lender and the loan structure that can say yes. Call (800) 239-1103 and I’ll tell you exactly where your loan amount lands against your county’s limit.
The 2026 conforming loan limit in California ranges from $832,750 to $1,249,125 for a single-family home, depending on the county. Ten counties — Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Orange, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz — are at the $1,249,125 ceiling. San Diego, Ventura, Napa, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Sonoma have their own limits in between, and every other California county uses the $832,750 national baseline. Any loan above your county’s limit is a jumbo loan.
What Changed for 2026
The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced the 2026 limits on November 25, 2025, effective for loans acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac starting January 1, 2026. The baseline rose 3.26% — from $806,500 to $832,750 — matching the increase in FHFA’s House Price Index from the third quarter of 2024 to the third quarter of 2025. The high-cost ceiling, set at 150% of the baseline, rose from $1,209,750 to $1,249,125.
| Limit (1-unit) | 2025 | 2026 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| National baseline | $806,500 | $832,750 | +$26,250 |
| High-cost ceiling | $1,209,750 | $1,249,125 | +$39,375 |
2026 Baseline and Ceiling Limits by Number of Units
| Units | Baseline (most CA counties) | High-Cost Ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| 1-unit | $832,750 | $1,249,125 |
| 2-unit | $1,066,250 | $1,599,375 |
| 3-unit | $1,288,800 | $1,933,200 |
| 4-unit | $1,601,750 | $2,402,625 |
2026 California Conforming Loan Limits by County
| County | 1-Unit | 2-Unit | 3-Unit | 4-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Orange, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| San Diego | $1,104,000 | $1,413,350 | $1,708,400 | $2,123,100 |
| Ventura | $1,035,000 | $1,325,000 | $1,601,600 | $1,990,450 |
| Napa | $1,017,750 | $1,302,900 | $1,574,900 | $1,957,250 |
| San Luis Obispo | $1,000,500 | $1,280,850 | $1,548,250 | $1,924,100 |
| Monterey | $994,750 | $1,273,450 | $1,539,350 | $1,913,000 |
| Santa Barbara | $941,850 | $1,205,750 | $1,457,450 | $1,811,300 |
| Sonoma | $897,000 | $1,148,350 | $1,388,050 | $1,725,050 |
| All other counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
Source: FHFA 2026 conforming loan limit values and Fannie Mae’s 2026 loan limit table. Confirm your county on FHFA’s lookup before you finalize your down payment.
What Is a Conforming Loan?
A conforming loan is a conventional mortgage that meets Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, including the loan-amount limit for your county. Because those loans can be sold into a deep secondary market, they usually carry the most competitive conventional pricing. The basics:
- Loan amount at or below your county’s 2026 limit
- Down payment as low as 3% on standard loan amounts (5% for most high-balance purchases)
- Credit: Fannie Mae’s automated underwriting no longer has a hard 620 floor, but most lenders still require about 620; the best pricing starts around 780
- Debt-to-income ratio up to 50% with an automated approval
- Property: 1–4 unit homes, condos and PUDs — primary, second home or investment
High-Balance Conforming Loans
If your loan is above the $832,750 baseline but at or below your county’s limit, it’s a high-balance conforming loan (sometimes called “super conforming”). It’s still a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan, just with a few differences:
- A modest pricing adjustment compared with a standard conforming loan
- Maximum 95% loan-to-value on a one-unit primary-residence purchase — the 3% down programs are limited to standard loan amounts
- Available for purchase, rate-and-term refinance and cash-out refinance
- Standardized agency underwriting, which is usually easier to qualify for than a jumbo loan
Only counties with limits above the baseline have a high-balance range. A $1.1 million loan in Los Angeles County is high-balance conforming, not jumbo. The same $1.1 million loan in Sacramento County is jumbo.
Example: Marin County
A buyer purchasing a $1,200,000 home in Marin puts 5% ($60,000) down. The $1,140,000 loan is under Marin’s $1,249,125 limit, so it’s high-balance conforming — Fannie/Freddie underwriting and pricing, with PMI until the loan reaches 80% of the original value.
Using the Limit in Your Down Payment Strategy
If your loan will land just above your county limit, a slightly larger down payment can move you from jumbo to conforming. Example: a planned $1,255,000 loan in Marin is $5,875 over the $1,249,125 limit. Bringing that $5,875 more to closing keeps the loan conforming.
Whether that’s the smarter move depends on the actual rate spread that day. Most of the time conforming prices better, but there are stretches when jumbo lenders compete hard for strong borrowers and jumbo rates come in at or even below high-balance conforming. I price both on the same day before you decide.
Multi-Unit Properties
The 2–4 unit limits are where California buyers get real leverage. In a ceiling county, a conforming loan on a fourplex can reach $2,402,625. If you live in one unit, projected rent from the other units can help you qualify. Down payment depends on the loan size: on standard loan amounts (at or below the baseline limit for the number of units), Fannie Mae allows as little as 5% down on an owner-occupied 2–4 unit purchase with an automated approval. High-balance 2–4 unit loans don’t get that treatment — plan on roughly 15% down for a duplex and 25% for a triplex or fourplex. FHA offers the same multi-unit loan limits in these counties with 3.5% down, which is why FHA is often the better tool for a Bay Area duplex.
3% Down Programs and the Limit
- Fannie Mae HomeReady / Freddie Mac Home Possible: 3% down, income at or below 80% of area median income, homebuyer education for first-time buyers.
- Conventional 97: 3% down for first-time buyers, with no income limit.
- Standard conventional: 5% down, no income limit, and available on high-balance loan amounts.
The 3% down options only go up to the $832,750 baseline. On a $832,750 loan, 3% down means a purchase price of about $858,500 with roughly $25,750 down. Above the baseline, plan on at least 5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in California?
It depends on the county. The limit is $1,249,125 for a single-family home in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Orange, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. San Diego is $1,104,000, Ventura $1,035,000, Napa $1,017,750, San Luis Obispo $1,000,500, Monterey $994,750, Santa Barbara $941,850 and Sonoma $897,000. All other California counties are at the $832,750 baseline.
When did the 2026 limits take effect?
FHFA announced them on November 25, 2025, and they apply to loans delivered to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac beginning January 1, 2026. Many lenders began accepting loans at the new limits shortly after the announcement.
What happens if my loan is above the conforming limit?
It becomes a jumbo loan, which can’t be sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Jumbo lenders set their own rules, usually requiring stronger credit, a larger down payment and more reserves. If you’re close to the limit, a slightly larger down payment may keep you conforming.
Can I get 3% down on a high-balance conforming loan?
No. The 3% down programs (HomeReady, Home Possible and Conventional 97) are limited to loan amounts at or below the $832,750 baseline. High-balance purchases of a one-unit primary residence generally require at least 5% down.
Are conforming limits the same as FHA limits in California?
In the ten ceiling counties and in San Diego, Ventura, Napa, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Sonoma, the 2026 FHA and conforming limits are the same. In most inland counties FHA is lower. For example, Sacramento is $764,750 for FHA versus $832,750 for conforming.
Should I put more down to stay under the conforming limit?
Often, but not always. It depends on how much extra cash it takes and the conforming-versus-jumbo rate spread at the time you lock. I run both scenarios side by side so you can see the monthly payment and total cost difference before deciding.
Related Resources
Talk to Michael Directly
DiVita Home Finance | Tiburon, CA | In lending since 2000, founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. Michael DiVita DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655. Company DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700.
When you call, you talk to me — the owner — not a call center. We never sell your information to lead-generation companies.
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