What loan amount does a mortgage need to be for it to be considered a Jumbo Loan?

Q: What loan amount does a mortgage need to be for it to be considered a Jumbo Loan?

A: This question used to have a simple answer, since there was a "bright line" definition -- the conforming loan limit. Back in 2008, Congress decided to let Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA offer "high-limit" loans in some of the most expensive housing markets.

What was a simple break point between conforming and jumbo became a mess of loan limits based upon median home prices. In most markets, the conforming loan limit is $806,500, and loans with amounts above that level are considered jumbos. However, in certain "high-cost" markets, the conforming loan limit runs as high as $1,209,750 (and loan amounts above this in these markets would be a jumbo).

In still other markets, the maximum conforming loan amount runs somewhere between the standard $806,500 limit and the maximum-maximum $1,209,750 limit.

Related: See top jumbo loan lenders

These "expanded conforming" or higher "agency jumbo" offers are available in only 154 of the 3,234 counties, parishes and territories around the country. If you are curious about what's applicable in your area, we've captured a spreadsheet from the GSEs which can allow you to look up your market to see if an "agency jumbo" is available to you. It's available here (XLS file), or FHFA also has a "rollover" map showing county-by-county conforming loan limits.

Resources: See current conforming loan limits and a history of conforming loan limits.