How to Find the FHA & Conforming Loan Limits for Your County
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You have your credit score ready and you know the difference between loan types. Now, the single most critical piece of information for setting your home price range is knowing your county’s loan limits by county.
This is not a number your lender simply sets—it’s a maximum ceiling established by the federal government. If the home you love exceeds this ceiling, you can’t use a standard mortgage to buy it.
We’re here to demystify the process and show you exactly how to find fha loan limits by county and your Conventional loan limits. Once you know these official mortgage limits, you’ll know the exact maximum loan amount you can borrow, allowing you to set a realistic, confident budget.
What Are Loan Limits and Why Do They Matter?
A loan limit is the maximum size of a mortgage loan that a government agency (like the FHA) or government-sponsored entity (like Fannie Mae) is willing to insure or purchase.
It matters because nearly all first-time buyers use these government-backed programs. If your desired loan amount exceeds the limit for your specific county, you’re forced into a “Non-Conforming” or Jumbo loan, which has much stricter requirements.
FHA Loan Limits (The HUD Standard)
FHA loan limits are established annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This is why they are often referred to as HUD loan limits.
These limits are usually lower than Conventional limits in the same area. The FHA sets a base limit (the “floor”) for low-cost areas and a higher limit (the “ceiling”) for expensive areas. If your county falls somewhere in the middle, the FHA limit will reflect that. You cannot borrow more than this amount on an FHA loan.
Conventional Loan Limits (The Fannie Mae Standard)
Conventional loan limits are determined by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Since Fannie Mae buys up these mortgages from banks, they are commonly called Fannie Mae loan limits or, more generally, conforming loan limits.
A “Conforming” loan simply means the loan amount conforms to the FHFA’s maximum limit. If the loan amount is higher, it becomes a “Non-Conforming” or Jumbo loan.
Step-by-Step: How to Find Loan Limits by County
The limits are determined by the median home price in your area, so they change from county to county, which is why your search must be specific.
Finding FHA Loan Limits
To find your official FHA loan limits, you must use the government’s tool:
- Go to the HUD FHA Mortgage Limits Search Page. (Future Link Placeholder: Search for “HUD FHA Mortgage Limits”).
- Select the Current Year and State.
- Search by County: Input your specific county name.
- Find the 1-Unit Limit: The resulting table will show limits for 1-4 unit properties. As a first-time buyer purchasing a single-family home, the number you care about is the “1-Unit” limit. This is your maximum loan amount for an FHA mortgage.
Finding Conventional (Conforming) Loan Limits
To find your conforming loan limits, you must use the FHFA’s official resource:
- Go to the FHFA Loan Limit Map or Search Tool. (Future Link Placeholder: Search for “FHFA Conforming Loan Limits”).
- Search by State and County.
- Review the Output: The results will immediately show you the conventional loan limits for that county. Pay close attention to whether your county is a standard area or a high-cost area loan limits designation, which will have a much higher ceiling.
What Happens If the Home Price Exceeds the Loan Limit?
You may find the perfect home that costs more than the loan limit in your area. You have two primary options:
- Increase Your Down Payment: The loan limit is only the maximum loan amount, not the maximum price. If a home is $50,000 over the limit, you can close the gap by bringing an extra $50,000 to your down payment.
- Use a Jumbo Loan: If you cannot increase your down payment, you will need a Non-Conforming (Jumbo) loan. These loans are not purchased by Fannie or Freddie, are financed by portfolio lenders, and have very strict requirements (higher credit score, higher reserves, usually $10-20% down).
Conclusion: Define Your True Budget
Knowing how to find FHA loan limits by county is a critical step because it creates the foundation for your actual budget. Now that you have a clear financial ceiling, your next step is to choose your loan type (FHA or Conventional? See our FHA vs. Conventional loan comparison guide) and then move immediately to getting pre-approved for a mortgage. This finalizes your budget and empowers you to begin your search with confidence.
