Published · The Loan Ranger
The short version
- Conventional (conforming): the baseline one-unit limit for 2026 is $832,750. It is higher in counties where homes cost more, up to $1,249,125.
- FHA: HUD sets a floor of $541,287 and a ceiling of $1,249,125 for one-unit homes. The exact figure depends on the county.
- VA: there is no loan limit with full entitlement.
- Above the limit: a loan larger than the county conforming limit is a jumbo loan.
Conforming loan limits by county
These are the one-unit limits the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) set for 2026. Twenty Colorado counties are above the baseline, and the other 44 sit exactly at $832,750.
| County | One-unit limit, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Eagle | $1,249,125 |
| Garfield, Pitkin | $1,209,750 |
| Lake, Summit | $1,092,500 |
| Moffat, Routt | $1,089,050 |
| San Miguel | $994,750 |
| Grand | $883,200 |
| Boulder | $879,750 |
| Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park | $862,500 |
At the $832,750 baseline: Alamosa, Archuleta, Baca, Bent, Chaffee, Cheyenne, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, Delta, Dolores, El Paso, Fremont, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, Kiowa, Kit Carson, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mesa, Mineral, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Otero, Ouray, Phillips, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Saguache, San Juan, Sedgwick, Teller, Washington, Weld, Yuma.
One-unit homes. Limits for two to four units are higher, and FHFA publishes them in its county list.
FHA limits are set separately
FHA does not use the conforming limit. HUD sets its own limits by county, between a 2026 floor of $541,287 and a ceiling of $1,249,125. In a lower-cost county, the FHA limit can sit well below the conforming limit, so a home near the top of your budget may need a conventional loan. HUD’s FHA mortgage limits lookup shows the figure for any county. Read more on the FHA loans page.
VA loans and the county limit
With full entitlement, VA borrowers do not have a loan limit. The county conforming limit above only comes into play when part of your benefit is already in use: the VA guarantees up to 25% of the loan, and your remaining entitlement is 25% of the county limit minus what you already used. In Denver County, for example, 25% of the $862,500 limit is $215,625. See the VA loans page.
What happens above the limit
When the loan you need is more than the conforming limit for the county, it becomes a jumbo loan. Jumbo loans are priced and underwritten by each lender, usually with a larger down payment and a closer look at your reserves. In resort counties with high limits, a home can still fit inside the conforming limit. Max can tell you which side of the line your purchase falls on. Start with the jumbo loans page.
How to use these numbers
- Find the county. The limit follows the county where the home is, not where you live now.
- Subtract your down payment. Compare the loan amount, not the price, with the limit.
- Check the program. FHA, conventional and VA each work differently, as above.
- Call Max. He checks the current limit for your county before you make an offer.
General information, not a loan approval or financial advice. Loan programs and requirements change, and Max confirms what applies to you.
