Bay Area Mortgage Education
San Francisco Bay Area High-Balance & Jumbo Loan Structure Guide
Quick Answer (BLUF): San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, and Santa Clara county buyers navigate high-cost FHFA ceilings, jumbo RSU/bonus income calculation rules, and condo HOA budget questionnaires when structuring a Bay Area home purchase.
Visual Cost & Payment Breakdown · San Francisco Mortgage Guide
The line, briefly
The conforming loan limit is the largest loan Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy. FHFA publishes it every year for each county, with higher limits in high-cost areas and for two- to four-unit homes. A loan above the limit for its county is a jumbo, or non-conforming, loan and follows each lender's own rules instead of the agencies' program rules.
Last reviewed against the primary sources listed below.
ToolLine checkerYour loan against your county's line.BasicsWhat the line isConforming versus jumbo.MethodHow limits are setThe yearly reset.PlacesHigh-cost countiesWhy some counties are higher.PropertyUnits and limitsOne to four units.TermsHigh-balance vs jumboTwo different things.OptionsStaying underWays buyers stay conforming.New guideWhat countsWhy the conforming limit applies to the loan amount, and what that mea.New guideFHA vs conforming limitsHow FHA's county loan limits differ from the conforming limits for Fan.GlossaryKey termsPlain definitions with sources.GuideAnnual announcementThe yearly timing of conforming limit updates and when they take effec.GuideTwo loansHow a first mortgage plus a second lien can keep the first loan confor.PrintableLender questionsQuestions to bring to any lender, ready to print.
Where to find your county
FHFA's conforming loan limit table lists every county. Use the limit that matches the number of units in the home.