California Loan Limits
What You Need to Know About the Current Loan Limits
Interest rates on most loans are still at (or near) historic lows. If you need a home loan, auto loan, or student loan in California, it’s likely that you can get it for less than 5% APR right now. But there are some limits to how much you can borrow. The limits vary depending on the type of loan and your financial situation.
Here is what you need to know about current 2026 conforming loan limits in California.
| County Name | 1 Unit | 2 Units | 3 Units | 4 Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Alpine | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Amador | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Butte | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Calaveras | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Colusa | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Contra Costa | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Del Norte | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| El Dorado | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Fresno | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Glenn | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Humboldt | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Imperial | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Inyo | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Kern | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Kings | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Lake | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Lassen | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Los Angeles | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Madera | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Marin | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Mariposa | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Mendocino | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Merced | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Modoc | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Mono | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| 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 | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Orange | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Placer | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Plumas | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Riverside | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Sacramento | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| San Benito | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| San Bernardino | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| 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 | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| 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 | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Sierra | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Siskiyou | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Solano | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Sonoma | $897,000 | $1,148,350 | $1,388,050 | $1,725,050 |
| Stanislaus | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Sutter | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Tehama | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Trinity | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Tulare | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Tuolumne | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Ventura | $1,035,000 | $1,325,000 | $1,601,600 | $1,990,450 |
| Yolo | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Yuba | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
What are conforming loan limits?
Conforming loan limits are loan amounts that are allowed by government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Conforming loan limits were established to ensure that borrowers had access to affordable and manageable loans.
The idea was that by having Conforming Loan Limits in place, borrowers would be less likely to default on their loans. As a result, Conforming Loan Limits help to keep the housing market stable and secure.
The good news is that recently, the Federal Housing Finance Agency raised the 2026 Conforming Loan Limits and cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, so loans that were previously labeled as “Jumbo” may fall into other categories. Depending on where you live, it could be as high as $970,800.
This change will significantly impact the housing market in California, as loans that were previously considered “jumbo” will now fall into other categories. As a result, more buyers will be able to take advantage of lower interest rates and more accessible qualification standards.
Loan limits depend on the borrower’s income and assets, as well as the type of loan they are seeking. For people with substantial assets, they may need to take out a mortgage loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
The current loan limits for a variety of loans
California has one of the most competitive lending markets in the country. However, there are also a lot of loan options. The most common types of conforming loans in California and biggest cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange, and San Diego are those that you may have already heard of, like 15 and 30-year mortgage loans.
Whether you are in the market for a small payday loan or large personal lines of credit, there’s something that will work best with your needs. Take some time to consider what type and amount are right for you before applying to avoid getting caught off guard when it comes down to taking out money from an institution!
Check the Full County Loan Limit List 2026
Watch out for this common trick
In trying to find a low mortgage loan rate, you may often hear unscrupulous lenders say things like “Lock in your rate on a low 30-year loan” or “low fixed rate on a 30 year loan”.
Notice they don’t specifically say “low 30 year fixed-rate loan”. Because an ARM can also be a 30-year loan and they’re taking advantage of you falling for the potentially higher prices without realizing it.
How To Know What Your Limit Is
The California loan limits for each loan type are different. The limits will depend on your financial situation. If you’re looking for a home loan, for example, the limits will depend on your FICO score and how much you’ve saved up for a down payment.
If you want to know what your limit is now, it’s important to work with an experienced loan professional who can help determine what your limit might be. A mortgage broker or banker can help you figure out what type of home loan is best suited to your unique needs and then help you find one that matches those needs.
How to Qualify for a Conforming Loan
As of January 2026, the qualifications are as follows:
- The minimum down payment for a purchase is 3% down or the minimum amount of equity in a home for a refinance is 3%.
- Generally speaking, you need above a 620 credit score to obtain a Conforming loan. And getting qualified for scores below 700 gets more difficult as you move further down.
- The debt-to-income ratio should be 50% or lower.
- Most Conforming loans do not need liquid asset reserves; however, some do. If you are purchasing a rental property (or refinancing a rental property) you’ll need to show some liquid reserves. If you have a low credit score, a debt-to-income ratio above 45%, and are taking cash out you’ll need to show some liquid reserves.
Keep in mind that conventional loans are considered conforming loans, but not all conforming loans are conventional loans. It can be difficult to make sense of, which is why it’s so important to work with a lender you can trust!
To learn more and to find out if you qualify, contact the experts at LBC Mortgage today! We’ll work with you to help you better understand everything you need to know about 2026 Conforming Loan Limits in California and work with you to find the best possible loan for your needs! Reach out to us today to learn more!