Conforming Loan Limit
The conforming loan limit is the maximum loan amount that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — the government-sponsored enterprises that buy most U.S. mortgages — will purchase. Loans at or below the limit are called conforming. Loans above it are jumbo loans, which follow private investor rules.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) sets the conforming limit each year based on changes in national home prices. The limit for 2026 is $832,750 for a one-unit property in most of the United States, including every parish in Louisiana. High-cost areas (none in Louisiana) carry higher limits.
The conforming loan limit is not the maximum you can borrow — it is the maximum that follows standard Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac rules. If you borrow above the limit, you can still get a mortgage; it will simply be a jumbo loan with investor-specific guidelines on credit, down payment, reserves, and documentation.
Why This Matters: The conforming limit matters most to buyers right at the line. A small adjustment in loan amount or down payment can sometimes keep a borderline file conforming — avoiding jumbo pricing and tighter guidelines. On any purchase near the limit, it is worth running the math both ways before writing an offer.
Common question
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Louisiana?
For 2026, the baseline conforming loan limit for a one-unit property is $832,750. Louisiana has no high-cost designated areas, so that number applies in every parish. FHFA resets the limit each year based on national home-price changes.
What is the difference between a conforming loan and a jumbo loan?
A conforming loan follows Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac guidelines and sits at or below the FHFA limit. A jumbo loan is above the limit and follows guidelines set by individual private investors — which means credit, down payment, reserve, and DTI expectations can vary significantly by program.
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Buying near the conforming limit? Let us run the numbers both ways — conforming and jumbo — so you can see the real difference.
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