MARKET UPDATE: 2026 Loan Limits
Your Guide to the Housing & Mortgage Markets
Home loans that conform to the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines tend to have better terms than non-conforming loans. That’s why it’s good news that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently announced that the conforming loan limits have increased to $832,750 for 2026. This is a $26,250 (3.26%) increase from the $806,500 loan limits of 2025. In some higher-cost areas, the loan limits could be as high as $1,249,125, a $39,375 increase from the $1,209,750 high-cost loan limits of 2025. Click here to view a map of all the loan limits across the US. Here are two ways to benefit from this increase:
BUY A HOME
It may make sense for you to consider a new home purchase using the higher loan amounts. This may be the perfect time for you to lock in your interest rate before interest rates move higher.
REFINANCE
It may be worth it to consider a home loan refinance if:
- You currently have a home loan that is near the loan limit
- You’d like to make some home improvements
- You’d like to consolidate other debts into your home loan (such as home equity loans or credit cards)
- You’re paying mortgage insurance, and your home has increased in value from the time you purchased the home
- You anticipate a change in your cash flow situation in the coming months (college funding, retirement, elder care, etc.)