Who’s a Good Fit for Jumbo
Buyers and refinancers whose loan amount is over the conforming line for that county. If you’re a physician looking at 0% down, that’s a different program. Talk to me.
A jumbo loan is a first mortgage larger than the conforming loan limit for that county. The Federal Housing Finance Agency sets that limit each year. For 2026, a one-unit home in Maricopa County, Arizona, is $832,750. Dallas County, Texas, is the same $832,750. Some high-cost counties are higher. We look up yours. The limit is the loan amount, not the purchase price. I have jumbo options into the millions. I won’t print a max here.
How these files get looked at
Jumbo is effectively a manual underwrite. That means a person at the lender examines the file case by case: income, assets, credit, the property, and how you’ll use the house. It is not just an automated pass/fail.
Down payment and occupancy
Jumbo can be a primary home, a second home, or an investment. Down payment changes with that. Some files can do as little as 10% down. I won’t print a chart.
Credit and assets
Lenders typically want strong credit. A larger down payment can relax that. Cash and reserves can push buying power higher. That’s often the conversation, not a score on a banner.
Common questions
- Is this the same as conventional?
- Same idea as a regular first mortgage, just over the county limit, so a different investor looks at it.
- Does the limit change?
- Yes, usually every January. We use this year’s number for your county.
What I need from you
The property, the loan amount, income, assets, credit, and how you’ll use the house. Then we apply. Talk to me first if you want a second set of eyes on whether jumbo is actually the right box.