Plain-language explanation
The loan amount, not the home price, sets the category
A conforming loan stays within the annual FHFA limit and can be acquired by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. A mortgage above the applicable county and property-unit limit is generally categorized as a jumbo loan.
The test uses mortgage principal rather than the purchase price. A home can cost more than $832,750 while the loan remains within the applicable limit after a down payment.
2026 one-unit baseline and ceiling
FHFA set the 2026 one-unit baseline at $832,750 for most of the United States, an increase of $26,250 from 2025.
A high-cost county can have a higher limit, but the ordinary one-unit high-cost ceiling is $1,249,125, equal to 150% of the baseline.
| Area type | 2026 one-unit limit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Most U.S. counties | $832,750 | A loan at or below the limit may be conforming |
| High-cost counties | $832,750 to $1,249,125 | The exact limit varies by county |
| Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands | $1,249,125 baseline; $1,873,675 ceiling | Special statutory limits apply |
Why $832,750 is not the jumbo line in every county
Where 115% of the local median home value exceeds the baseline, FHFA sets a higher local limit. A loan above $832,750 can therefore remain conforming in some high-cost counties.
County limits can change each year and can differ within a state. FHFA's all-county file is the formal source for a location-specific amount.
Why conforming and jumbo rates can differ
Conforming mortgages can enter the market supported by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Jumbo loans exceed those acquisition limits and are underwritten and priced under lender-specific standards. Their funding and risk structures differ, so the two rates do not always move together.
This website tracks separate 30-year conforming and jumbo locked-loan averages. Both are market references, not personal lender quotes.