2026 Texas Conforming Loan Limits
Conforming loan limits are the maximum loan amounts that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are willing to purchase from lenders. Loans that fall within these limits are known as conforming loans and typically offer more favorable interest rates and terms compared to non-conforming or jumbo loans. Conforming loan limits are set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and are adjusted annually to reflect changes in the housing market.
The FHFA determines conforming loan limits based on the House Price Index (HPI), which measures the average change in home prices across the country. The conforming loan limit is set at 115% of the median home price in a given area, subject to a floor and a ceiling. In Texas, the conforming loan limit for a 1 unit home (single family) is $832,750. Conforming loans also has different loan limits based on the number of units in the home. Below are the 2026 conforming loan limits for 1- 4 unit properties in TX for each county.
| County | 1 Unit | 2 Units | 3 Units | 4 Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALL COUNTIES IN TEXAS | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
Look up 2026 loan limits for any US county
Use our calculator below to see exact 2026 conforming and FHA loan limits for any United States county.
Why does Texas have no high cost counties?
FHFA designates a county as high cost when 115% of the local median home price exceeds the national conforming baseline. While Texas has experienced strong home price appreciation, particularly in the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metros, no Texas county's FHFA determined median home price has reached the threshold required for high cost designation. Texas median home prices remain meaningfully lower than the high cost markets in coastal California, the New York metro area, the Washington D.C. corridor, and resort markets in Colorado and Florida.
This makes Texas different from California (where 17 counties carry higher conforming limits) and New York and New Jersey (each with 10 to 12 high cost counties), and similar to most of the Sun Belt and Mountain West where conforming limits remain at the statewide baseline.
2026 Texas conforming loan limits by metro area
While all 254 Texas counties carry the same $832,750 baseline conforming loan limit, the major metropolitan areas have very different housing markets:
Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex loan limits
The DFW metroplex includes Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, Rockwall, Kaufman, Ellis, Johnson, Parker, Wise, Hunt and other surrounding counties. The 2026 conforming loan limit across the entire DFW metroplex is $832,750 for one unit properties, $1,066,250 for 2 unit, $1,288,800 for 3 unit, and $1,601,750 for 4 unit properties. DFW has seen substantial home price appreciation since 2020, with Collin County (Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen) and Denton County (Flower Mound, Highland Village, Argyle) commanding the highest median prices in the metroplex. Affluent submarkets like Highland Park, University Park, Southlake, Westlake and parts of Dallas County's M Streets and Lakewood neighborhoods regularly transact above the conforming limit.
Houston metro loan limits
The Houston metropolitan area includes Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston, Brazoria, Liberty, Waller, Chambers and Austin counties. The 2026 conforming loan limit across all Houston metro counties is $832,750 for one unit properties. Harris County is the most populous county in Texas and the third most populous in the United States. Fort Bend County (Sugar Land, Katy, Missouri City) and Montgomery County (The Woodlands, Conroe) have seen substantial growth, while Galveston County combines coastal communities like Galveston Island with mainland suburbs in League City and Friendswood. Premier Houston submarkets like River Oaks, Memorial, West University, Bellaire and parts of The Woodlands frequently have transactions above the conforming limit.
Austin-Round Rock metro loan limits
The Austin metro includes Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties. The 2026 conforming loan limit across the Austin metro is $832,750 for one unit properties. Austin has experienced some of the strongest home price appreciation of any major U.S. metro since 2020, with Travis County (Austin proper, Westlake, Tarrytown), Williamson County (Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Georgetown) and Hays County (Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, Wimberley, Dripping Springs) all seeing substantial increases. Premier Austin submarkets like Westlake, Tarrytown, Travis Heights, Barton Hills and Lake Travis area communities regularly require jumbo financing for higher priced transactions.
San Antonio metro loan limits
The San Antonio metro includes Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Wilson, Atascosa, Bandera, Medina and Kendall counties. The 2026 conforming loan limit is $832,750 for one unit properties across all San Antonio metro counties. Comal County (New Braunfels) and Kendall County (Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch) carry the highest median prices in the metro, while Bexar County itself has a wide range of price points from affordable San Antonio neighborhoods to affluent areas like Alamo Heights, Olmos Park, Terrell Hills, Stone Oak and The Dominion.
Other Texas metro areas
Other major Texas metros carrying the same $832,750 baseline conforming limit include El Paso (El Paso County), Corpus Christi (Nueces and San Patricio counties), Lubbock (Lubbock County), Amarillo (Potter and Randall counties), Beaumont-Port Arthur (Jefferson, Orange, Hardin counties), Tyler-Longview (Smith, Gregg, Rusk counties), Waco (McLennan County), College Station-Bryan (Brazos County), San Angelo (Tom Green County), the Rio Grande Valley (Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Starr counties) and Laredo (Webb County). Even in these smaller metro markets, the conforming loan limit applies uniformly at $832,750.
When does a Texas mortgage become a jumbo loan?
A Texas mortgage becomes a jumbo loan the moment it exceeds the conforming loan limit. Because all 254 Texas counties carry the same baseline limit in 2026:
- In every Texas county (Dallas, Harris, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis, Collin, Denton, Williamson, Fort Bend, Montgomery, El Paso, Hidalgo and all 242 other counties): any one unit mortgage above $832,750 is jumbo.
Jumbo loan rates in Texas
Jumbo mortgage rates in Texas can be higher than conforming rates and sometimes price better than conforming for borrowers with strong credit, larger down payments and substantial reserves. Texas is a high volume jumbo lending market given the concentration of high value transactions in the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metros. For current pricing, see our Texas mortgage rates page.
Should you look at jumbo or conforming?
If your mortgage amount is just above the $832,750 conforming limit, several strategies may help bring you back within conforming territory:
- Increase your down payment. An additional $20,000-$50,000 down can be the difference between a jumbo and conforming loan, and conforming pricing may save you more than the opportunity cost of the additional cash.
- Consider a piggyback (80/10/10) structure. A first mortgage at the conforming limit plus a second mortgage or HELOC for the gap can preserve conforming pricing on the larger loan.
If your mortgage is well above the conforming limit jumbo financing may be an option. Alpine Mortgage works with multiple wholesale jumbo investors and can show you both options to determine which structure is best for your specific scenario.
Because jumbo loans aren't purchased by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, lenders either keep them on their balance sheet or sell them to private investors. Jumbo guidelines therefore tend to be stricter than conforming guidelines, but the differences are smaller than many borrowers expect.
2025 vs. 2026 Texas conforming loan limit changes
| Limit Type | 2025 (1-Unit) | 2026 (1-Unit) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Texas counties (baseline) | $806,500 | $832,750 | +$26,250 (+3.3%) |
The 2026 baseline conforming limit increased $26,250 (about 3.3%) from $806,500 to $832,750, a smaller increase than recent years, reflecting moderating home price appreciation nationally. Because Texas does not have any high cost designated counties, the entire state benefits uniformly from the baseline increase. The new limit applies to loans delivered to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac on or after January 1, 2026.
Conforming versus FHA loan limits in Texas
Conforming and FHA loan limits sound similar but apply to different loan programs and are set by different agencies. The right limit depends on which loan program you're using:
- Conforming limits apply to conventional mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These are the limits described on this page.
- FHA limits apply to mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration, which are typically used by borrowers with smaller down payments, lower credit scores, or other underwriting flexibility needs.
Texas is unusual in that the FHA loan limit structure is more varied than the conforming structure. While all 254 Texas counties carry the same $832,750 baseline conforming limit, FHA limits in Texas have multiple tiers above the FHA floor of $541,287. Counties in the Austin-Round Rock metro, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, the Houston area and the San Antonio metro carry intermediate FHA limits between the floor and the conforming limit, with each county's FHA limit calculated from local median home prices. This makes the FHA program particularly relevant in Texas markets where borrowers want financing above the FHA floor but below the conforming limit.
If you're researching FHA limits specifically, see our dedicated 2026 Texas FHA Loan Limits page, which covers FHA floor counties, intermediate tier counties and the FHA ceiling counties.
For a side-by-side comparison of both limits in any Texas county, our 2026 Conventional & FHA Loan Limits Calculator displays both at once.
How to get pre-approved for a Texas conventional loan
Getting pre-approved for a conventional mortgage is quick and easy with our online Loan Application. After completing the application, you will receive instructions on how to upload your documents. For a list of documents you will need to upload, see our Pre-approval Document Checklist.
Ready to get started on your TX home loan?
Whether you're buying your first Texas home, refinancing, or investing in property, Alpine Mortgage is ready to help. The next step depends on where you are in the process:
Or call (201) 488-8809 to speak with a Texas mortgage originator today.
Steven Parangi is a licensed mortgage loan originator (NMLS #76024) and attorney with over 20 years of experience in residential home lending. As the founder of Alpine Mortgage, Steven works directly with borrowers to review their mortgage options and assist them throughout the home financing process. Content published on AlpineBanker.com is reviewed regularly by Steven to reflect current lending guidelines and market conditions.
View full author profile →Texas conforming loan limits FAQs
Loan limits vary because they are based on the median home prices in specific areas. This approach ensures that the amounts reflect the local real estate market, making conventional loans accessible and reasonable for homebuyers in different regions.
Conforming loan limits can change annually based on movements in the housing market and home price indices.
If the home price exceeds the conforming loan limits for your county, you have a few options: consider a different home that falls within the loan limits, make a larger down payment to cover the difference, or look into different types of financing, such as a conventional jumbo loan.
See our Conventional Loan Requirements for more information on how to qualify for a conventional loan.
No, there are no income limits for obtaining a conventional loan. However, borrowers must meet debt-to-income (DTI) ratio guidelines and prove their ability to repay the loan. Typically, conventional loan guidelines require a DTI ratio of 50% or less.
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