Key points
- FHFA set the 2026 baseline one-unit conforming loan limit at $832,750, up $26,250 from 2025.
- Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, Essex and Plymouth counties have a higher one-unit limit of $962,550. Dukes and Nantucket are at the ceiling of $1,249,125.
- The limit applies to the loan amount, not the purchase price. A loan above the county limit cannot be sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
- Two- to four-unit properties have higher limits, which matters for buyers of two- and three-family houses.
What changed
Each year the Federal Housing Finance Agency sets the maximum loan size that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may buy, known as the conforming loan limit. On November 25, 2025, FHFA announced the 2026 values: a baseline one-unit limit of $832,750, up $26,250 from 2025, and a ceiling of $1,249,125 for high-cost areas. Counties between the two get their own limit based on local home values.
Massachusetts limits for 2026
These are the 2026 limits from FHFA’s county list. Greater Boston’s five counties share the same values.
| County | 1 unit | 2 units | 3 units | 4 units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, Essex, Plymouth | $962,550 | $1,232,250 | $1,489,500 | $1,851,100 |
| Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester | $832,750 | $1,066,250 | $1,288,800 | $1,601,750 |
| Dukes, Nantucket | $1,249,125 | $1,599,375 | $1,933,200 | $2,402,625 |
What it means in practice
The limit is about the loan, not the price. A buyer in Middlesex County purchasing a single-family home or condo can borrow up to $962,550 on a conforming loan, whatever the price, as long as the down payment covers the rest and the borrower qualifies. A loan above the limit is often called a jumbo loan; lenders hold it or sell it elsewhere, and their requirements for down payment, reserves and pricing can differ.
For a two-, three- or four-family house, the higher multi-unit limit applies. Ask your lender which limit fits the property and whether the loan amount you are planning sits just above or below it. A small change in down payment can move a loan from one side of the line to the other. Buyers whose income or assets do not fit standard loan programs have other routes, which a lender can explain.
Status as of October 2026
The 2026 limits apply to loans Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac acquire during calendar year 2026. FHFA announces each new year’s limits separately; for a loan that will be acquired in 2027, check FHFA’s site for the 2027 values once they are published.
General information for Massachusetts home buyers, current as of the date shown. It is not lending advice; loan terms depend on the lender and the borrower.