2020 Conforming Loan Limits: Historical FHFA Update

Historical update: This article records the conforming loan limits announced for 2020. The amounts below are not current loan limits and should not be used to plan a new application.

What FHFA announced for 2020

In its November 26, 2019 announcement, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) set the 2020 baseline conforming loan limit at $510,400 for a one-unit property in most of the United States. Some high-cost areas and locations subject to special statutory provisions had different limits. FHFA publishes limits by year, county, and number of units, so the baseline figure was never the right figure for every property.

Conforming loan limits describe the maximum mortgage amounts eligible for acquisition by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under the applicable rules. The 2020 announcement was tied to that year; it does not establish today’s county limit or determine whether a particular loan can be purchased. Read the original FHFA 2020 announcement for the historical details.

How to find the limit that applies now

For a current mortgage discussion, start with FHFA’s conforming loan limit values. Select the relevant year and check the property’s county and number of units. Then review your loan amount and program with a lender. A published limit is one factor in the review; it is not a promise of financing or approval.

If you are comparing options today, bring the property location, unit count, and proposed loan amount to the conversation. Explore NorthStar Funding’s purchase planning or contact the team to discuss how the current published limit relates to your situation. This page remains available only as a dated record of the 2020 change.