Conventional loans in California and San Diego
Amir Nurani · NMLS #197458 · (619) 366-9494
Read the conventional loans guide
Quick answer: For 2026, the FHFA high-cost conforming limit for a 1-unit home in San Diego County is $1,104,000. The national baseline is $832,750. Amounts between those two figures are high-balance conforming. Anything above $1,104,000 is generally jumbo. The test is loan amount, not list price.
| Property | Baseline (standard conforming) | San Diego County high-cost limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1-unit (house, condo, townhome) | $832,750 | $1,104,000 |
| 2-unit | $1,066,250 | $1,413,350 |
| 3-unit | $1,288,800 | $1,708,400 |
| 4-unit | $1,601,750 | $2,123,100 |
Conventional loans are the main path for many California and San Diego buyers with solid credit and some cash to close. They are not government-backed like FHA or VA. They follow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, or jumbo guidelines when the loan is larger. Left Coast Leaders, Inc. (NMLS #2394495) prices conventional next to FHA, VA, and jumbo on the same file.
The 2026 San Diego County line
FHFA announced 2026 limits in late 2025. The national 1-unit baseline rose to $832,750. San Diego County sits in the high-cost band at $1,104,000 for a 1-unit home. For a 1-unit purchase in 2026, think in three buckets:
- Loan amount up to $832,750: standard conforming.
- $832,751 through $1,104,000: high-balance conforming. Still eligible for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, with pricing and overlays that are often a notch tighter than baseline.
- Above $1,104,000: jumbo (non-conforming). See jumbo loans in San Diego.
The test is loan amount, not list price. A $1,200,000 purchase with 20% down ($240,000) is a $960,000 loan. That is high-balance conforming in San Diego County, not jumbo. A $1,150,000 purchase with 5% down is a $1,092,500 loan, still under $1,104,000. A $1,250,000 purchase with 10% down is a $1,125,000 loan. That is jumbo. Full table and math: San Diego County conforming loan limits 2026.
When conventional is usually the stronger fit
- Credit and down payment support conventional pricing
- You want a path to remove mortgage insurance once you have enough equity
- You want to compare monthly cost against FHA on your real numbers, not a program name
What we price with you
Credit, down payment, reserves, and the monthly payment with San Diego taxes and insurance. A lower down payment can work. Less than 20% down is common. 5% down often works if the rest of the file qualifies. PMI is commonly required below 20% equity and sits in the monthly payment until it can be removed under program rules. It is not always the cheapest monthly path. Price the file before you assume 20% down is required.
Compare FHA, VA, jumbo, and refinance
Price conventional against FHA loans in San Diego when 3.5% down or credit is the constraint. FHA is not automatically cheaper once MIP is in the number. If you are VA-eligible, start on VA loans in San Diego. If the loan amount clears $1,104,000, use jumbo loans in San Diego. San Diego homeowners comparing a new rate or cash-out should use refinance a San Diego mortgage. We are a local brokerage, not a bank: mortgage broker in San Diego.
Related reading: Conventional Loans in California · Low Down Payment Conventional Loans in San Diego · FHA vs conventional · How to remove PMI.
Frequently asked questions
For 2026, the FHFA high-cost conforming limit for a 1-unit home in San Diego County is $1,104,000. Loans above that amount are generally jumbo. The test is loan amount, not list price.
No. Jumbo vs conforming is based on loan amount, not purchase price. A higher-priced home with a larger down payment can still land in high-balance conforming territory.
When credit and down payment support conventional pricing, you want a path to remove mortgage insurance once you have enough equity, and you want to compare monthly cost against FHA on your real numbers, not a program name.
Baseline conforming for a 1-unit property in 2026 is $832,750. In San Diego County, amounts from $832,751 through $1,104,000 are high-balance conforming. High-balance loans can still be sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, but pricing and overlays are often a bit tighter than baseline conforming.
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