Every year, the Federal government updates mortgage loan limits to reflect housing market conditions, and 2026 is no different. Not all counties are created equal. Both Los Angeles and Ventura Counties are in high cost areas, but they can have different loan limits.
- Conforming loan limits, set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), increased across the board based on home price trends. The “national” baseline conforming limit for a single family (1 unit) home is now $832,750, with higher caps in expensive markets. Both Los Angeles and Ventura Counties are in high cost areas and have higher limits.
- FHA loan limits, governed by HUD, also rose for many counties, with high cost county ceilings up to $1,249,125 for single family homes.
- VA loan limits are determined differently: Veterans with full entitlement now have no hard cap, but county conforming limits are still used for certain entitlement calculations in partial entitlement scenarios.
That means for homebuyers and refinancers in Los Angeles County and Ventura County, 2026 brings updated thresholds that expand borrowing potential, especially with high balance conforming and government insured loans.
2026 Conforming Loan Limits — LA & Ventura Compared
Conforming loans are mortgages that meet the purchasing criteria of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, usually resulting in competitive rates and flexible underwriting.
Los Angeles County 2026 Conforming Limits
| Property Type | Low-Balance Conforming | High-Balance Conforming |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Unit | $832,750 | $1,249,125 |
| 2 Units | $1,066,250 | $1,599,375 |
| 3 Units | $1,288,800 | $1,933,200 |
| 4 Units | $1,601,750 | $2,402,625 |
Ventura County — 2026 Conforming Limits
| Property Type | Low-Balance Conforming | High-Balance Conforming |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Unit | $832,750 | $1,035,000 |
| 2 Units | $1,066,250 | $1,325,000 |
| 3 Units | $1,288,800 | $1,601,600 |
| 4 Units | $1,601,750 | $1,990,450 |
2026 FHA Loan Limits — Government Backed Advantage
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) sets county limits that account for local home prices and national floor/ceiling adjustments.
FHA 2026 LA & Ventura Loan Limits
| County | 1 Unit | 2 Units | 3 Units | 4 Units |
|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
| Ventura (approx) | similar high cost area figures |
HUD’s statewide data shows Los Angeles County FHA limits hit the high cost ceilings for 2026.
📌 Why FHA matters
- Lower down payment requirements
- More flexible credit/DTI qualifying
- Useful for first time buyers or those with moderate credit
2026 VA Loan Perspective Full Entitlement Rule
VA home loans are unique:
- Veterans with full entitlement have no county loan cap — meaning with full entitlement, you can borrow as much as a lender will approve without a down payment.
- Where partial entitlement applies, VA still uses county conforming limits (like the FHFA figures above) to help calculate guarantee amounts.
So while you won’t see a fixed “VA limit” in the typical sense for most veterans with full entitlement, the conforming limits still matter for certain entitlement math and zero-down scenarios, especially on larger purchases.
Bottom Line (In Real World Terms)
- Conforming limits expanded for 2026, giving buyers higher purchase room with conventional financing, especially in high-cost coastal California counties.
- FHA ceilings rose, which helps buyers who rely on lower down payments or more flexible underwriting.
- VA financing remains powerful with no ceiling for fully entitled borrowers, and county limits are still part of how guarantees are calculated in some cases.
Borrowers in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties have more borrowing capacity and more pathways to homeownership in 2026.
If you are in the Los Angeles area, and have any questions or real estate sales or financing needs, feel free to contact me
Ron Henderson GRI, SRES, SFR, RECS, CIAS, CREN, GREEN
President/Broker
Multi Real Estate Services, Inc.
Gov’t Affairs Chair – Southland Regional Association of Realtors (2025)
Gov’t Affairs Chair – California Association of Mortgage Professionals (2017-2018)
Chairman – OutWest Marketing Meeting (Real Estate Education)
DRE #00905793 NMLS #310358
www.mres.com
ronh@mres.com
Specialist in the Art of Real Estate Sales and Finance
Real Estate market, mortgage rates, Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley, Simi Valley, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Calabasas, Chatsworth
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