For a one-unit home in 2026: California conforming limits run from $832,750 to $1,249,125. FHA forward limits run from $541,287 to $1,249,125. Your county and property unit count determine the applicable number.
These are loan limits, not purchase-price limits, guaranteed approval amounts, or required down payments. High-balance conforming and FHA have different underwriting and pricing. Jumbo, VA, USDA, and equity lending need separate reviews.
A quick reference
Choose the county and unit count.
Use the county where the property is located, not the mailing city or your current residence. An ADU does not automatically make a property a two-unit home; confirm the lender’s classification.
Select a county to see its conforming and FHA limits side by side.
Enter the amount borrowed, not the home price. This checks size only; it does not calculate eligibility, down payment, or available equity.
Source files checked October 27, 2026. FHFA county CSV and HUD CY2026 FHA Forward file, joined by California county FIPS code. FHA case-number timing and agency acquisition rules can affect which year applies; confirm before closing. Scroll horizontally for wider views.
No county matches that search. Try a shorter county name or clear the search.
What the limit means for your financing.
Conforming versus high-balance
A conforming loan fits the applicable agency size limit and must also meet the other program requirements. In a high-cost county, a loan above the national baseline but within the county ceiling may fit high-balance conforming financing. Being within the county maximum does not make its pricing identical to a smaller loan.
FHA is government-insured financing with its own county limits, insurance, and underwriting. Do not substitute the conforming number for the FHA number.
Sale price versus amount borrowed
The home price can exceed the county loan limit while the loan stays below it, depending on the down payment. Conversely, the amount financed may include eligible financed charges that need to be counted under the selected program’s rules.
A size comparison cannot determine the minimum cash needed, qualification, insurance, or total payment. Discuss the full transaction before changing your down payment to fit a category.
Illustrative example · not a loan quote
A size-only comparison
For a hypothetical $1,000,000 purchase with a $200,000 down payment, the starting loan amount is $800,000 before any applicable financed charges. That amount is below Sacramento’s $832,750 one-unit conforming limit, but above its $764,750 one-unit FHA limit.
This does not establish approval, FHA financing eligibility, or the required down payment. It simply shows why purchase price and program limits are different numbers.
Some loans follow a different framework.
Loan type
How to interpret the county table
Where to go next
Jumbo
A proposed conventional loan above the applicable conforming limit generally requires a nonconforming comparison. Lender limits, reserves, terms, and pricing vary.
Full-entitlement borrowers do not have a VA county loan cap. For remaining entitlement, county limits can affect the guaranty and down-payment calculation. Lender approval is still required.
Use USDA eligibility and program requirements rather than treating this FHA/conforming table as a USDA approval ceiling. Address and household eligibility matter.
These are not governed by the conforming first-mortgage county table. Value, liens, combined loan-to-value, credit, income, and lender product limits control.
Check the new loan amount, purpose, unit count, and program. Cash-out restrictions and financed costs can affect eligibility even below a county ceiling.
This page is specifically the official 2026 county reference. Do not use it as a 2027 table. Confirm the applicable year for your transaction.
Why does FHA show a lower number than conforming in my county?
FHFA conforming and HUD FHA forward limits are separate datasets and programs. Many California counties have different amounts.
Does an ADU make my property a duplex?
Not automatically. An accessory unit can be treated differently from a separate second dwelling unit under the selected program. Confirm the appraisal and program classification.
Can I qualify just because my loan is under the limit?
No. Income, debts, credit, assets, occupancy, property eligibility, and other underwriting requirements still apply.
Can the table tell me my maximum HELOC?
No. Equity borrowing uses lender-specific criteria and combined lien exposure, rather than simply subtracting your balance from a conforming limit.
Can I use higher multifamily limits for a condo?
The number of homes in a condominium project is not the unit count of the property you are financing. Confirm the correct classification.
Prepared by Aaron Clowes · NMLS #200900. Editorial sources checked October 27, 2026. Examples are hypothetical; actual costs, terms, eligibility, and program availability vary. This educational guide is not a rate quote or commitment to lend.
