Santa Cruz County, California Loan Limits for 2026

The FHA loan limit in Santa Cruz County is $1,249,125 for a one-unit home in 2026 (a high-cost area above the national floor), and the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $1,249,125. Anything larger is a jumbo loan. HUD sets the FHA figure for the SANTA CRUZ-WATSONVILLE, CA area.

2026 limits by number of units

UnitsFHA limitConforming limit
1$1,249,125$1,249,125
2$1,599,375$1,599,375
3$1,933,200$1,933,200
4$2,402,625$2,402,625

FHA limits effective January 1, 2026 per HUD; conforming limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026 per FHFA. HUD's median price used to set the FHA limit here: $1,100,000.

What the limit means at the median price

The median Santa Cruz County home is worth $1,015,200. With FHA's 3.5% minimum down payment, the largest FHA loan on that home would be $979,668, within the county limit.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Santa Cruz County for 2026?

$1,249,125 for a single-family home, $1,599,375 for a duplex, $1,933,200 for a triplex and $2,402,625 for a fourplex, per HUD's county limits file (Mortgagee Letter 2025-23). Santa Cruz County is a high-cost area, so its limit sits above the national floor of $541,287.

What is the conforming loan limit in Santa Cruz County?

$1,249,125 for a one-unit home in 2026 ($1,599,375, $1,933,200 and $2,402,625 for 2, 3 and 4 units), per the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Loans above it are jumbo loans.

Does the limit cap the home price?

No. It caps the loan amount. A buyer can purchase a home above the limit by making a larger down payment so the mortgage stays within it.

Sources

Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.

Loan limits in every California county → Santa Cruz County home buyer guide →

General information, not lending advice. Lenders may set their own lower caps.

Santa Cruz County overview