FHA Loan Limits by Metro (2026)
FHA limits vary by county based on local median home prices. The national floor is $541,287, the high-cost ceiling is $1,249,125, and most metros sit somewhere between. Below are 12 of the largest US metros with the FHA limit and the state DPA programmes that pair with FHA.
Metro-by-metro 2026 FHA limits
| Metro | County | 1-unit FHA limit | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles County | $1,249,125 | Ceiling |
| San Francisco, CA | San Francisco County | $1,249,125 | Ceiling |
| New York, NY (Manhattan) | New York County | $1,249,125 | Ceiling |
| Houston, TX | Harris County | $541,287 | Floor |
| Miami, FL | Miami-Dade County | $667,000 | Elevated |
| Phoenix, AZ | Maricopa County | $557,750 | Elevated |
| Seattle, WA | King County | $1,063,750 | Elevated |
| Washington, DC | District of Columbia | $1,249,125 | Ceiling |
| Boston, MA | Suffolk County | $1,249,125 | Ceiling |
| Chicago, IL | Cook County | $541,287 | Floor |
| Denver, CO | Denver County | $862,500 | Elevated |
| Atlanta, GA | Fulton County | $718,750 | Elevated |
One-unit limits shown. For 2-, 3-, and 4-unit FHA limits in a specific county, use the HUD county lookup. Source: HUD Mortgagee Letter 2025-23, effective 1 January 2026. Always verify via the HUD county lookup at entp.hud.gov.
State DPA programmes that pair with FHA
| Metro | Primary DPA pairing options |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | CalHFA MyHome / ZIP / Forgivable Equity Builder |
| San Francisco, CA | CalHFA MyHome / ZIP / Mortgage Credit Certificate |
| New York, NY (Manhattan) | SONYMA Down Payment Assistance Loan |
| Houston, TX | TSAHC Home Sweet Texas / TDHCA My First Texas Home |
| Miami, FL | Florida Housing Hometown Heroes / Florida Assist |
| Phoenix, AZ | Home Plus / Home in Five Advantage (Maricopa) |
| Seattle, WA | Washington State Housing Finance Commission Home Advantage |
| Washington, DC | DC HPAP (Home Purchase Assistance Program) |
| Boston, MA | MassHousing Down Payment Assistance / ONE Mortgage |
| Chicago, IL | IHDA Access Forgivable / Access Deferred / Access Repayable |
| Denver, CO | CHFA DPA Grant / 2nd Mortgage Loan |
| Atlanta, GA | Georgia Dream Homeownership Program |
How county tiering works
FHA county limits are set at 115% of the local median home price, capped at the high-cost ceiling and floored at the national floor. Each county falls into one of these tiers:
- Floor: $541,287 (one-unit). Median home prices at or below approximately $471k. Most US counties.
- Elevated tiers: Various levels between floor and ceiling. Common in mid-tier metros (Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, Atlanta, parts of Florida).
- Ceiling: $1,249,125. Highest-cost metros (San Francisco Bay Area counties, Manhattan, Boston, Nantucket).
- Special area: Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands follow the same 115%-of-median rule as the mainland, but the FHA ceiling rises to $1,873,625. Individual county limits still vary from the national floor up to that ceiling. For FHA (unlike the conforming programme, which sets a $1,249,125 baseline across all of Hawaii), most Hawaii counties sit well below that ceiling: Honolulu County (Oahu) is far below it, and Hawaii County (Big Island) is near the national floor. Confirm any specific county at the HUD lookup.
Rate disclaimer
DPA programmes change rules and funding availability frequently. Confirm current programme terms with your State Housing Finance Agency. Consult a licensed loan officer.
Sources
- HUD 2026 FHA county loan limits: entp.hud.gov/idapp
- FHFA 2026 conforming loan limit press release: fhfa.gov
- National Council of State Housing Agencies (DPA lookup): ncsha.org
- HUD Handbook 4000.1: HUD 4000.1
Related: FHA loan limits | 2026 conforming by county | DPA programmes