California has more high-cost counties than any of my other states, so a loan that would be jumbo elsewhere can still be conforming here, and a high-balance conforming loan often prices better than jumbo.
2026 high-cost counties in California
Every other county uses the $832,750 baseline for a one-unit home. See all 58 California counties.
| County | 1 unit | 2 units | 3 units | 4 units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Contra Costa | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Los Angeles | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Marin | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Orange | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| San Benito | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| San Francisco | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| San Mateo | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Santa Clara | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| 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 |
What is different in California
- 17 of California’s 58 counties have a conforming limit above the $832,750 baseline in 2026, topping out at $1,249,125.
- Between the baseline and your county’s limit, a loan is conforming high-balance: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rules, sometimes with a small pricing add-on.
- Above the county limit it is a jumbo loan. California has the deepest jumbo market in the country, so comparing several jumbo lenders matters more here than anywhere.
- Prop 13 keeps property taxes near 1% of the price plus local charges, but the tax is reset to the purchase price when you buy, so budget from the new price, not the seller’s bill.
Questions
Where does a jumbo loan start in California in 2026?
There isn’t one statewide limit: a loan is jumbo above its county’s conforming limit, from $832,750 in baseline counties up to $1,249,125 in Los Angeles, Orange and the Bay Area.
What is the conforming loan limit in San Diego County?
$1,104,000 for a one-unit home in 2026. See also: Conforming and jumbo loans in Florida.
Is a high-balance loan better than a jumbo loan in California?
Often, because high-balance loans follow agency rules on down payment and credit. Above the county limit, a strong jumbo file can price close to or even below high-balance, so I compare both.
Related
- Jumbo loans
- Jumbo vs conforming loans
- Conventional loans
- Home affordability calculator
- Mortgage reserves calculator
Conforming and jumbo loans in other states: Arizona, Florida, Ohio. All of California: mortgage loans in California.
