Whether a loan qualifies for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac purchase — and often gets a better rate — depends on staying within that year’s conforming loan limit for the property’s area.
How it works
Comparing the loan amount against the applicable 2026 limit for the selected area type shows whether the loan is conforming, and if not, how much falls into jumbo territory.
What this does not include
This does not include multi-unit property limits (which are higher than the one-unit limits shown here) or the specific county-by-county high-cost designations — it uses only the national baseline and ceiling figures.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the loan amount and select the area type.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the limit go up every year?
FHFA adjusts it annually based on the House Price Index, so the limit rises (or occasionally falls) with national home price trends.
Is a jumbo loan always worse than a conforming loan?
Not necessarily — jumbo loans can be competitively priced, but they typically require stronger credit, a lower debt-to-income ratio, and larger cash reserves than a conforming loan.
What determines whether an area is “high-cost”?
FHFA designates counties as high-cost when 115% of the local median home value exceeds the baseline limit, allowing a higher loan limit up to the ceiling in those specific counties.
