Written and reviewed by Jack Gladden, Senior Loan Officer, NMLS #1470164
Updated · 4-minute read · How these guides are written
Jumbo loans in brief
- What it is
- A mortgage larger than the conforming loan limit, so Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac won’t buy it and lenders set their own rules.
- Where jumbo starts in 2026
- Above $832,750 for a one-unit home in most counties, and up to $1,249,125 in high-cost counties such as Los Angeles.
- Typical requirements
- Credit around 700–740 or higher, debt-to-income under about 43–45%, and months of reserves.
- Rates
- Often close to conforming rates, sometimes lower, depending on the lender and your file.
- Ways around it
- A larger down payment or a second loan can keep the first mortgage under the limit.
- Where
- California, Arizona, Florida and Ohio, plus jumbo investment loans nationwide where permitted.
Where jumbo starts: 2026 loan limits.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency sets the conforming loan limit every year. A loan up to your county’s limit is conforming; above it, the loan is jumbo. For 2026 the one-unit limit is $832,750 in most of the country and $1,249,125 at the ceiling in high-cost counties. Limits are higher for two- to four-unit properties.
| County (one-unit home) | 2026 limit |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Marin (CA) | $1,249,125 |
| San Diego (CA) | $1,104,000 |
| Ventura (CA) | $1,035,000 |
| Monroe, the Florida Keys (FL) | $990,150 |
| Sacramento and Riverside (CA); Maricopa and Pima (AZ); Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Orange and Duval (FL); Franklin, Cuyahoga and Hamilton (OH) | $832,750 |
Source: FHFA 2026 conforming loan limits. A loan between $832,750 and a high-cost county’s limit is a high-balance conforming loan, not a jumbo: in Los Angeles, a $1.1 million loan can still follow conventional rules.
Look up any county in Arizona, California, Florida or Ohio: 2026 loan limits by county.
What jumbo lenders typically look for.
| Requirement | What’s typical |
|---|---|
| Credit | Around 700–740 or higher; the best pricing usually starts higher still. |
| Debt-to-income | Usually under about 43–45% of income; some lenders allow up to 50% for strong files. |
| Down payment | Often 10–20%; some programs accept less with mortgage insurance or strong credit. |
| Reserves | From a couple of months to a year or more of payments, rising with the loan size. |
| Appraisal | A full appraisal; some lenders require two on larger loans. |
| Income documents | Usually full documentation; self-employed borrowers can use bank statement jumbo programs. |
Close to the line?
Tell me the price, your down payment and the county. I’ll show you whether it’s conforming, high-balance or jumbo, and which costs least.
Ways to finance a high-value home.
Jumbo loan
One loan for the full amount, fixed or adjustable, from a bank or specialist lender.
Best forStrong credit and reserves
High-balance conforming
Conventional rules up to your county’s higher limit, often with a lower down payment.
Best forLoans within the high-cost limit
First plus second loan
A first mortgage at or under the limit with a second loan or HELOC on top, avoiding jumbo rules.
Best forBuyers just over the limit
Jumbo ARM or interest-only
A lower starting payment for a fixed period, then adjusting.
Best forBuyers who expect to sell or refinance
Investment property above the limit can also use DSCR loans, which qualify on rent.
The trade-offs.
- Stricter approval. Higher credit, lower debt-to-income and more reserves than a conforming loan.
- More cash to close. A larger down payment and reserves, plus higher closing costs on a bigger loan.
- Lender-by-lender rules. Without Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac standards, terms vary widely, so comparing lenders matters more.
- A tougher appraisal. Fewer comparable sales at high prices can make the value harder to support.
How we get started.
Send me the numbers
Price or value, down payment, the county, and how you earn.
I compare the structures
High-balance conforming, a first-plus-second, and jumbo lenders side by side.
Apply and appraise
With the lender that fits best; larger loans may need a second appraisal.
Close
With your reserves and closing funds documented.
Jumbo loans, answered plainly.
Is $400,000 or $500,000 a jumbo loan?
No. In 2026 the conforming limit is at least $832,750 for a one-unit home everywhere in the continental U.S., so loans of $400,000 or $500,000 are conforming.
What is the jumbo loan limit in California for 2026?
It depends on the county: $1,249,125 in Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco and Bay Area counties, $1,104,000 in San Diego, and $832,750 in Sacramento and Riverside. Above your county’s limit, the loan is jumbo.
What qualifies as a jumbo loan in Florida and Arizona?
In most counties, a loan above $832,750 for a one-unit home in 2026. Monroe County in the Keys is higher, at $990,150. See also: Jumbo vs conforming loans.
Do you have to put 20% down for a jumbo loan?
Not always. Many lenders ask for 10–20%, and some accept less with strong credit or mortgage insurance.
What is the downside of a jumbo loan?
Stricter credit, debt-to-income and reserve requirements, more cash to close, and terms that vary by lender.
Are jumbo rates higher?
Not necessarily. Jumbo rates are often close to conforming rates and sometimes lower, depending on the lender and your file.
Can I avoid a jumbo loan?
Often, by putting more down or adding a second loan so the first mortgage stays under your county’s limit. See also: Jumbo vs conforming loans.
Is it hard to qualify for a jumbo loan?
Harder than a conforming loan: lenders usually expect strong credit, a moderate debt-to-income ratio, several months of payments in savings after closing, and full income documents. Each lender sets its own rules, so comparing several helps.
Conventional
Adjustable-rate (ARM)
Self-employed & bank statement
Cash-out refinance