Short answer: the official 2027 conforming loan limit has not been announced yet. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) typically publishes it in late November. For 2026, the baseline limit for a one-unit home is $832,750 in most of the country, and up to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas. Home prices rose modestly over the past year, so most of the industry expects a small increase for 2027, and a few large lenders are already lending to $845,000 ahead of the official number.
Here is how the limit works, why it matters, and what to do if your purchase price puts you near the line.
What is a conforming loan limit?
A conforming loan limit is the largest loan amount that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy. Loans at or below the limit are called conforming loans. Loans above it are called jumbo loans, and they are underwritten and priced differently because they stay with the lender or a private investor instead of being sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
The limit applies to the loan amount, not the purchase price. A buyer purchasing above the limit can still use a conforming loan if the down payment brings the loan amount under it.
What are the 2026 conforming loan limits?
| Area | 2026 limit (one-unit home) |
|---|---|
| Baseline (most U.S. counties) | $832,750 |
| High-cost area ceiling | $1,249,125 |
| Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands (baseline) | $1,249,125 |
FHFA announced these figures on November 25, 2025. The 2026 baseline rose 3.26 percent from 2025, matching the change in its House Price Index over the prior year. Limits for two- to four-unit properties are higher and are published in the same release.
How is the 2027 limit calculated?
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act requires FHFA to adjust the baseline limit each year to reflect the change in average U.S. home prices. FHFA measures that change with its House Price Index, comparing the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next. If prices rise, the limit rises by the same percentage. High-cost areas are set at 115 percent of the local median home value, capped at 150 percent of the baseline.
Because the third-quarter figures are only finalized in the fall, the official number cannot be known until FHFA publishes it.
When will the 2027 conforming loan limit be announced?
FHFA usually announces the next year’s limits in the last week of November, and the new limits apply to loans delivered to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac starting January 1. We will update this post with the official 2027 figures as soon as they are released.
What do early signs point to for 2027?
FHFA’s most recent quarterly report showed U.S. house prices up 2.1 percent from the second quarter of 2025 to the second quarter of 2026. That is a slower pace than the year before, which suggests a smaller increase than 2026’s.
Several large lenders have also moved early. In September 2026, some began lending to $845,000 on conforming loans, about 1.5 percent above the 2026 baseline, in anticipation of the official increase. That is a lender decision, not an FHFA figure, and the final number could land higher or lower.
Why does the conforming limit matter to buyers?
- Underwriting: conforming loans follow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, which are often more flexible on credit and reserves than jumbo programs.
- Pricing: conforming loans are widely traded, so they are usually simpler to price and compare across lenders.
- Program access: many low down payment options for qualified buyers are only available on conforming loans.
- FHA limits follow: FHA’s loan limits are set as a percentage of the conforming limit, so when one rises, the other does too. See FHA loans for how that works.
What if my loan amount is close to the limit?
If your loan amount sits just above the 2026 limit, you have a few options:
- Wait for the new limit. A closing in early 2027 may fall under the higher figure.
- Ask about lenders already using a higher limit. As a broker, we can compare lenders that have adopted an early 2027 limit with those that have not.
- Adjust the structure. A larger down payment, or a first mortgage paired with a second, can keep the first loan conforming.
- Compare jumbo pricing. In some markets, jumbo loans are competitive, so it is worth seeing both side by side.
Your Eureka moment
Most buyers near the limit assume they are stuck with a jumbo loan. Seeing that a small change in timing or structure can keep the loan conforming, and having the numbers for both paths in front of you, is usually the moment the decision gets easy.
What’s the next step?
Run your numbers with our mortgage calculator, then talk with a Eureka broker. We compare conforming, high-balance and jumbo options from 25+ wholesale lenders across the 10 states where we are licensed. No consultation fees, ever. Connect with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit? For a one-unit home, the 2026 baseline conforming loan limit is $832,750 in most U.S. counties, and up to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas.
When is the 2027 conforming loan limit announced? FHFA typically announces the next year’s conforming loan limits in late November, and they take effect January 1.
Will the conforming loan limit go up in 2027? It is expected to rise modestly because U.S. home prices increased over the past year, but the official figure is not known until FHFA publishes it. Some lenders are already using $845,000 ahead of the announcement.
Does the conforming limit apply to the price or the loan amount? The loan amount. You can buy a home priced above the limit and still use a conforming loan if your down payment keeps the loan at or below the limit.
How do I find the limit for my county? FHFA publishes a county-by-county list each year. A Eureka broker can also tell you the limit that applies to the property you are considering.