For 2027, the baseline conforming loan limit in California is $850,000 for a one-unit home — the figure most lenders are already honoring early. In high-cost counties like Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, and Santa Clara, that ceiling rises to $1,275,000. Loans above your county’s limit are “jumbo” and follow different guidelines. San Diego County sits in between at $1,126,850.
How California loan limits work
Each year the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) sets the conforming loan limit — the largest loan Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will back. Expensive counties get a higher “high-cost” limit. A loan at or under your county’s limit is conforming, which generally means the easiest terms; anything above it is a jumbo loan. California, with its high home prices, has more high-cost counties than almost any state.
Note: These are the 2027 honored-early limits most California lenders are already using. The FHFA publishes the official 2027 county-by-county schedule in late 2026, and we will update any figures that change.
2027 one-unit limits by tier
| Tier | 1-unit limit | Example counties |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline (most counties) | $850,000 | Riverside, San Bernardino, Fresno, Sacramento, Kern, Tulare |
| High-cost ceiling | $1,275,000 | Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda, San Mateo, Marin, Napa |
| San Diego County | $1,126,850 | San Diego |
Multi-unit limits (baseline)
For 2–4 unit properties, the baseline conforming limits are higher, and rise further in high-cost counties:
| Units | Baseline limit |
|---|---|
| 2 units | $1,088,350 |
| 3 units | $1,315,500 |
| 4 units | $1,634,950 |
What it means for your loan
If your loan is at or under the limit, you are conforming. Just over it, a jumbo loan is the path — and as an independent broker we compare jumbo programs across many lenders. Plenty of California buyers in Orange County and Los Angeles land right at the high-cost line, where structuring the loan correctly can save real money.
How Save Financial helps
Save Financial is an independent mortgage broker (NMLS #377740) serving all 58 California counties. Whether your loan is conforming, high-balance, or jumbo, we shop 20+ wholesale lenders to find the right structure for your county and price point, backed by our $500 Price-Beat Guarantee. Try our California loan-limits calculator to see your county’s figure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2027 conforming loan limit in California?
The baseline 2027 conforming limit is $850,000 for a one-unit home in most counties, rising to $1,275,000 in high-cost counties such as Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, and Santa Clara. San Diego County is $1,126,850.
Why does my county have a higher limit?
The FHFA gives expensive housing markets a “high-cost” designation with a higher conforming limit, tied to local median home prices. Most of coastal California qualifies, which is why limits there are well above the national baseline.
What happens if my loan is over the county limit?
A loan above your county’s conforming limit is a jumbo loan. Jumbo loans follow different guidelines on credit, reserves, and down payment, and we compare jumbo programs across multiple lenders to find the best fit.
Are these the official FHFA numbers?
These are the 2027 honored-early figures most California lenders are already using. The FHFA publishes its official 2027 county schedule in late 2026; we update any numbers that change.
What is San Diego County’s 2027 loan limit?
San Diego County’s 2027 one-unit conforming limit is $1,126,850 — above the statewide baseline but below the high-cost ceiling that applies to Los Angeles, Orange, and the Bay Area.
Save Financial is an independent California mortgage broker (NMLS #377740) that shops 20+ wholesale lenders to match your scenario — and backs it with our $500 Price-Beat Guarantee. Get pre-approved free or call (949) 379-5320.