The Federal Housing Administration and Federal Housing Finance Agency have released updated loan limits for 2026. California homebuyers now have access to significantly higher loan amounts across every county — with the conforming loan limit floor rising to $832,750 and the FHA ceiling reaching $1,249,125 in high-cost areas.
Quick answer — 2026 California loan limits: In California’s high-cost counties (Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Marin), the 2026 FHA and conforming loan limit is $1,249,125 — the statewide ceiling. The conforming floor is $832,750 and the FHA floor is $541,287. San Diego is $1,104,000, Ventura $1,035,000, and most inland counties sit at the floor. Find your county below.
Here is what changed and how it affects your home buying power in California. (Need a refresher on FHA basics first? See our FHA loan requirements page .)
What Are the 2026 Loan Limits?
The national conforming loan limit floor for a single-family home is $832,750 in 2026, up from $806,500 in 2025. The FHA floor is $541,287 (65% of the conforming limit). In high-cost areas like Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Francisco, both the FHA and conforming limits reach the ceiling of $1,249,125.
Key California County Highlights
Six counties held flat from 2025: Mendocino, Mono, Napa, San Joaquin, Solano, and Sonoma saw no change. Every other county rose at least $1,150. The standout: Alpine County jumped $211,775 — from $524,225 to $736,000 — the largest single-county increase in the state, moving off the floor entirely.
| County ⇅ | 2026 FHA ⇅ | 2026 Conforming ⇅ | 2025 FHA ⇅ | YoY Change ⇅ | % Change ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | $1,249,125 | $1,249,125 | $1,209,750 | +$39,375 | +3.3% |
| Alpine | $736,000 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$211,775 | +40.4% |
| Amador | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Butte | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Calaveras | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Colusa | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Contra Costa | $1,249,125 | $1,249,125 | $1,209,750 | +$39,375 | +3.3% |
| Del Norte | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| El Dorado | $764,750 | $832,750 | $763,600 | +$1,150 | +0.2% |
| Fresno | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Glenn | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Humboldt | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Imperial | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Inyo | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Kern | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Kings | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Lake | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Lassen | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Los Angeles | $1,249,125 | $1,249,125 | $1,209,750 | +$39,375 | +3.3% |
| Madera | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Marin | $1,249,125 | $1,249,125 | $1,209,750 | +$39,375 | +3.3% |
| Mariposa | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Mendocino | $546,250 | $832,750 | $546,250 | — | — |
| Merced | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Modoc | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Mono | $776,250 | $832,750 | $776,250 | — | — |
| Monterey | $994,750 | $994,750 | $970,600 | +$24,150 | +2.5% |
| Napa | $1,017,750 | $1,017,750 | $1,017,750 | — | — |
| Nevada | $649,750 | $832,750 | $644,000 | +$5,750 | +0.9% |
| Orange | $1,249,125 | $1,249,125 | $1,209,750 | +$39,375 | +3.3% |
| Placer | $764,750 | $832,750 | $763,600 | +$1,150 | +0.2% |
| Plumas | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Riverside | $690,000 | $832,750 | $672,750 | +$17,250 | +2.6% |
| Sacramento | $764,750 | $832,750 | $763,600 | +$1,150 | +0.2% |
| San Benito | $1,249,125 | $1,249,125 | $1,209,750 | +$39,375 | +3.3% |
| San Bernardino | $690,000 | $832,750 | $672,750 | +$17,250 | +2.6% |
| San Diego | $1,104,000 | $1,104,000 | $1,077,550 | +$26,450 | +2.5% |
| San Francisco | $1,249,125 | $1,249,125 | $1,209,750 | +$39,375 | +3.3% |
| San Joaquin | $678,500 | $832,750 | $678,500 | — | — |
| San Luis Obispo | $1,000,500 | $1,000,500 | $967,150 | +$33,350 | +3.4% |
| San Mateo | $1,249,125 | $1,249,125 | $1,209,750 | +$39,375 | +3.3% |
| Santa Barbara | $941,850 | $941,850 | $913,100 | +$28,750 | +3.1% |
| Santa Clara | $1,249,125 | $1,249,125 | $1,209,750 | +$39,375 | +3.3% |
| Santa Cruz | $1,249,125 | $1,249,125 | $1,209,750 | +$39,375 | +3.3% |
| Shasta | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Sierra | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Siskiyou | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Solano | $685,400 | $832,750 | $685,400 | — | — |
| Sonoma | $897,000 | $897,000 | $897,000 | — | — |
| Stanislaus | $545,100 | $832,750 | $535,900 | +$9,200 | +1.7% |
| Sutter | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Tehama | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Trinity | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Tulare | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Tuolumne | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
| Ventura | $1,035,000 | $1,035,000 | $1,017,750 | +$17,250 | +1.7% |
| Yolo | $764,750 | $832,750 | $763,600 | +$1,150 | +0.2% |
| Yuba | $541,287 | $832,750 | $524,225 | +$17,062 | +3.3% |
2-, 3-, and 4-Unit FHA Limits — California 2026
| County | 1-Unit (SFR) | 2-Unit (Duplex) | 3-Unit (Triplex) | 4-Unit (Quad) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Alpine | $736,000 | $942,200 | $1,138,900 | $1,415,400 |
| Amador | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Butte | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Calaveras | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Colusa | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Contra Costa | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Del Norte | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| El Dorado | $764,750 | $979,000 | $1,183,400 | $1,470,700 |
| Fresno | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Glenn | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Humboldt | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Imperial | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Inyo | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Kern | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Kings | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Lake | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Lassen | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Los Angeles | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Madera | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Marin | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Mariposa | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Mendocino | $546,250 | $699,300 | $845,300 | $1,050,500 |
| Merced | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Modoc | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Mono | $776,250 | $993,750 | $1,201,200 | $1,492,800 |
| Monterey | $994,750 | $1,273,450 | $1,539,350 | $1,913,000 |
| Napa | $1,017,750 | $1,302,900 | $1,574,900 | $1,957,250 |
| Nevada | $649,750 | $831,800 | $1,005,450 | $1,249,550 |
| Orange | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Placer | $764,750 | $979,000 | $1,183,400 | $1,470,700 |
| Plumas | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Riverside | $690,000 | $883,300 | $1,067,750 | $1,326,950 |
| Sacramento | $764,750 | $979,000 | $1,183,400 | $1,470,700 |
| San Benito | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| San Bernardino | $690,000 | $883,300 | $1,067,750 | $1,326,950 |
| San Diego | $1,104,000 | $1,413,350 | $1,708,400 | $2,123,100 |
| San Francisco | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| San Joaquin | $678,500 | $868,600 | $1,049,950 | $1,304,850 |
| San Luis Obispo | $1,000,500 | $1,280,850 | $1,548,250 | $1,924,100 |
| San Mateo | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Santa Barbara | $941,850 | $1,205,750 | $1,457,450 | $1,811,300 |
| 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 |
| Shasta | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Sierra | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Siskiyou | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Solano | $685,400 | $877,450 | $1,060,600 | $1,318,100 |
| Sonoma | $897,000 | $1,148,350 | $1,388,050 | $1,725,050 |
| Stanislaus | $545,100 | $697,800 | $843,500 | $1,048,300 |
| Sutter | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Tehama | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Trinity | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Tulare | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Tuolumne | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
| Ventura | $1,035,000 | $1,325,000 | $1,601,600 | $1,990,450 |
| Yolo | $764,750 | $979,000 | $1,183,400 | $1,470,700 |
| Yuba | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 |
Source: HUD 2026 announcement · 1–4 unit FHA loan limits · For illustration only · NMLS #1281
What This Means for Home Buyers
Orange County & Los Angeles
With the FHA limit at $1,249,125, a buyer can purchase a home up to approximately $1,293,394 with just 3.5% down ($45,269 down payment). That covers the vast majority of single-family homes in these markets.
San Diego
The San Diego FHA limit jumped to $1,104,000 — meaning you can buy a home up to approximately $1,143,523 with 3.5% down.
Riverside & San Bernardino (Inland Empire)
At $690,000 FHA / $832,750 conforming, Inland Empire buyers have strong purchasing power. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, you can purchase up to approximately $714,508.
FHA vs. Conventional: Which Should You Use?
If your purchase price falls within the FHA limit for your county, you can use either program. Here is how they compare:
| Feature | FHA Loan | Conventional Loan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum down payment | 3.5% | 3% (first-time) to 5% |
| Minimum credit score | 580 (3.5% down) | 620+ |
| Mortgage insurance | Required for life of loan | Removable at 80% LTV |
| Loan limits | $541,287 – $1,249,125 | $832,750 – $1,249,125 |
| Best for | Lower credit scores, smaller down payments | Strong credit, plans to remove MI early |
For full FHA eligibility details — credit minimums, debt-to-income limits, MIP cost — see our FHA home loan requirements . Need a loan amount above the conforming limit? See our jumbo loan options instead.
How Loan Limits Are Determined
FHA and conforming loan limits are updated annually based on changes in median home prices:
- Conforming limits are set by the FHFA at 115% of the area median home price, with a floor ($832,750) and ceiling ($1,249,125)
- FHA limits are set by HUD at 65% of the conforming limit (floor) to 150% of the conforming limit (ceiling)
- County-specific limits depend on median home values in each county’s metro area
Counties where the median home price exceeds the floor threshold get higher limits. That is why coastal California counties have much higher limits than rural inland counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Pre-Qualified Today
Ready to take advantage of the higher 2026 loan limits? 1st Nationwide Mortgage offers FHA, conventional, VA, and jumbo loans for California properties. See our full FHA loan programs or check FHA eligibility — or call us at (833) 350-9185 .