New 2026 loan limits now stand at $832,750 for a 1-unit home in standard areas.
The 2026 conventional loan limit is $832,750 for a 1-unit home.
Each year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reviews home price changes over the previous year to determine conventional loan limits for the upcoming year.
For 2026, the FHFA used its House Price Index, or the “FHFA HPI®”, to determine new limits. It published new 2026 limits on November 25, 2025.
2026 Conventional Loan Limits
| Units | 2026 Standard Limits | 2026 High-Cost Limits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $832,750 | $1,249,125 |
| 2 | $1,066,250 | $1,599,375 |
| 3 | $1,288,800 | $1,933,200 |
| 4 | $1,601,750 | $2,402,625 |
In addition, homes in Hawaii are eligible for even higher limits up to $1,299,500 for a 1-unit home.
When Are 2026 Limits Available?
Most lenders are offering new 2026 conventional loan limits immediately. Lenders should accept loans above 2025 limits and up to 2026 limits. Lenders then deliver the loans to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac after January 1, 2026.
That means homebuyers and refinancing homeowners can apply and even close a loan above 2025 limits before 2026. Still, it's a good idea to ask your lender about individual policies before applying.
How Much Did 2026 Loan Limits Increase?
Conventional loan limits increased for 2026 as follows:
$806,500 in 2025 → $832,750 in 2026, an increase of $26,250 or 3.26%.
Each year the Federal Housing Finance Agency uses its House Price Index® to determine loan limits for the following year. It compares third-quarter data from the previous year to the third quarter of the current year.
Formula:
(2025 Q3 HPI – 2024 Q3 HPI) / 2024Q3 HPI
= (419.12 – 405.90) / 405.90*
= 0.0326 (3.26%)
Could 2026 Conventional Loan Limits Have Decreased?
In a word, no. The FHFA follows rules that say conforming loan limits may not decrease even if the FHFA home price index decreases.
Instead, conventional loan limits would remain the same until home prices rebounded to their previous highs. Loan limits would rise only when home prices exceeded previous levels.
What If You Need a Larger Loan?
You may be buying or refinancing in an expensive area. In this case, you could use a jumbo loan or combine these larger loan limits with a HELOC.
For example, you’re looking for a $1,000,000 home at 2026 limits:
| Loan Attribute | Amount |
|---|---|
| Home Price | $1,000,000 |
| Down Payment | $100,000 |
| Remaining Loan Needed | $900,000 |
| 2026 Limit | $832,750 |
| Shortfall/HELOC Amount | $67,250 |
This structure keeps your loan in conventional territory, giving you more lenient underwriting compared to most jumbo loan programs.
Conventional Loan Limits History
| Year | 1-Unit | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $832,750 | 3.26% |
| 2025 | $806,500 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | $766,550 | 5.6% |
| 2023 | $726,200 | 12.2% |
| 2022 | $647,200 | 18.0% |
| 2021 | $548,250 | 7.4% |
| 2020 | $510,400 | 5.4% |
| 2019 | $484,350 | 6.9% |
| 2018 | $453,100 | 6.8% |
| 2017 | $424,100 | 1.7% |
| 2016 | $417,000 | 0.0% |
| 2015 | $417,000 | 0.0% |
About Conventional Loans
Most conventional loans are regulated by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Applicants with high credit scores get the best rates and mortgage insurance costs. Down payments can be as little as 3%, lower than the FHA minimum. Because of efforts of the Fannie and Freddie to expand availability of its products, conventional loans have become a favorite of first-time buyers who may not have qualified in the past.
*Note that loan limits are based on FHFA’s expanded-data indexes which is why the above figures differ from commonly-cited HPI numbers.
