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- In 2024, you can borrow up to $766,550 for a conforming loan. The ceiling limit for high-cost areas is $1,149,825.
- To borrow more than the FHFA allows for conforming loans, consider applying for a jumbo loan.
- In Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands, the baseline conforming loan limit is $1,149,825.
Each year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) adjusts the amount you can borrow with a conforming loan, which is probably what you think of as a "regular mortgage."
In most areas, if the loan amount you need for a home exceeds the conforming loan limit, you'll need to get a jumbo loan. However, in high-cost areas, you'll have a higher loan limit. This higher loan limit is based on the area's median home values, and may go up to the maximum "ceiling" limit for one-unit properties, which is equal to 150% of the baseline limit.
What is the conforming loan limit for 2024?
In 2024, you can borrow up to $766,550 on a conforming loan in most areas, a $40,350 increase from last year's limit.
In high-cost areas, the ceiling loan limit for one-unit properties is $1,149,825. This is also the baseline loan limit in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands.
If you're wondering if your city has a higher loan limit due to it being a high-cost area, you can check the county-level list on the FHFA's website.
These are the borrowing limits for single-unit homes, but you can borrow more for two-unit, three-unit, and four-unit homes.
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What to do if you don't qualify for a conforming loan
If you want to borrow more than the FHFA allows, a jumbo loan may be an option. Jumbo loans are simply mortgages for people who need more than the FHFA normally allows. They typically have stricter eligibility requirements to qualify for a mortgage and higher interest rates than conforming loans. Jumbo loans are riskier for lenders, so companies make it harder to qualify to decrease the likelihood of a borrower defaulting on payments.
Each mortgage lender has its own requirements for jumbo loans, but you'll probably need a higher credit score, lower debt-to-income ratio, and bigger down payment than you would for a conforming loan. Expect to need at least a 700 credit score and 20% or more for a down payment. You also may need a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 36% to 45%.
The better your credit score, DTI ratio, and down payment, the more you may be approved to borrow with a jumbo loan.
What if your credit and debt profiles aren't strong enough for a conforming or jumbo loan? You may want to apply for an FHA mortgage, which is for people with credit scores as low as 580 and a DTI ratio of 43% or lower. The borrowing limit depends on where you live, and you can find the limit for your county here.
You may qualify for a VA mortgage if you're a military member, or a USDA mortgage if you're buying in a rural area. Neither of these types of home loans requires a down payment. VA mortgages do not have a borrowing limit, and USDA mortgages usually have the same limits as conforming loans.
Laura Grace Tarpley, CEPF Personal Finance Reviews Editor Laura Grace Tarpley (she/her) is a senior editor at Personal Finance Insider. She oversees coverage about mortgage rates, refinance rates, lenders, bank accounts, and borrowing and savings tips for Personal Finance Insider. She was a writer and editor for Business Insider's "The Road to Home" series, which won a Silver award from the National Associate of Real Estate Editors. She is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).She has written about personal finance for over seven years. Before joining the Business Insider team, she was a freelance finance writer for companies like SoFi and The Penny Hoarder, as well as an editor at FluentU. You can reach Laura Grace at ltarpley@businessinsider.com.Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services » Read more Read less Molly Grace Mortgage Reporter Molly Grace is a reporter at Insider. She covers mortgage rates, refinance rates, lender reviews, and homebuying articles for Personal Finance Insider. Before joining the Insider team, Molly was a blog writer for Rocket Companies, where she wrote educational articles about mortgages, homebuying, and homeownership. You can reach Molly at mgrace@businessinsider.com, or on Twitter @mollythegrace. Read more Read lessncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyxsdGspqeZnGKzqrrAp5qeZ5Oku6e70aagp59dobyiuoyloKahpKg%3D