2026 Conventional Loan Limits for First Time Home Buyers

Hello again and welcome to Houston first time home buyers edition. Regulated by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and considered the most common type of home loan, conventional loan is offered by private lenders that includes online originators, credit unions and typicality require a higher credit score when compare to FHA. However, Unlike FHA that is backed by government programs, conventional loan is not a government backed loan.

Each year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reviews home price changes over the previous year to determine conventional loan limits for the upcoming year. For 2026, the FHFA used its House Price Index to determine new conventional loan limits. The new conventional loan limit for 2026 is $832, 750 for a single family home. This represent an increase of $26,250, which is 3.26% over 2025 loan limit that was $806,500.

Units         Standard limits        High cost limits

1              $832,750                     $1,249,125

2              $1,066,250                  $1,599,375

3              $1,288,800                  $1,933,200

4              $1,601,750                 $2,402,625

Hawaii limit is up to $1,299,500 for a single family home.

Here is a Look at Conventional Loan Limits for 1 Unit Property Since 2019.

Year         Loan Limit     Increase

2026        $832,750         3.26%

2025        $806,500         5.2%

2024        $766,550         5.6%

2023        $726,200       12.2%

2022        $647,200       18.0%

2021        $548,250        7.4%

2020        $510,400        5.4%

2019        $484,350        6.9%

As always, thank you so much for stopping by. Remember, if you or someone you know is thinking of purchasing a first home, please give us a call or Email us. We are here to help. We have been helping Houston first time home buyers since 2011 and we can help you. I hope you have an amazing day. Until next time...Diana