FHA Loan Limits California 2022 | Limits By County and Home Type

In 2022, the FHA loan limits in California for a single-unit property range from $420,680 in lower price counties to $970,800 in higher-priced counties. Counties with lower FHA loan limits include Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou, Trinity, and others. In California, roughly 40% of the counties have FHA loan limits of up to $420,680. Higher FHA loan limit counties include Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, San Benito, Santa Clara, Alameda, and San Francisco to name a few. Counties with higher living expenses tend to have higher FHA loan limits to accommodate the higher cost of living. Let’s take a look at how FHA loan limits vary by other counties and home types in California.

Editorial Note: All data regarding loan limits is pulled directly from the FHA and is current as of 2022. These numbers are subject to change and evaluated by the FHA each year.

California FHA Loan Limits 2022 – By County and Home Type

Making Sense of the FHA Loan Limits in California

FHA loan limits in California tend to be higher around coastal counties due to a higher demand for housing in those areas. The highest median home sales prices for single-family homes are in the following counties below, which also have the highest FHA loan limits in California.

  • San Mateo – $1,629,000
  • San Francisco – $1,629,000
  • Marin – $1,629,000
  • Contra Costa – $1,629,000
  • Alameda – – $1,629,000
  • Santa Clara – $1,421,000
  • San Benito – $1,421,000
  • Orange – $955,000
  • Los Angeles – $955,000
  • Santa Cruz – $945,000

As you can see from the data, counties which had the lowest median home sales prices have the lowest FHA loan limits. As a general rule of thumb, higher-cost counties will have higher FHA loan limits which are subject to change each year. They are based on the conforming loan limits for conventional loan limits set by the FHFA each year. In addition to this, the FHA loan limits in California go as high as $1,867,275 for a 4-unit property. The FHA will fund up to a maximum of 4-unit properties.

FHAFA Confirming Loan Limits by Year 1980 – 2022

To help people get a better understanding of the increase in conforming loan limits we have created the following graph below. All data is pulled directly from the FHFA.

As you can see there is a steady increase in the conforming loan limits from 1980 to 2022. The increase over the last two years is due to the low-interest rate environment and rising inflation.

How to Qualify for an FHA Loan in California

California borrowers who are interested in getting an FHA loan will have to pass the standard FHA loan requirements. Individuals who may not have the cash for a down payment may qualify for California’s first-time homebuyer assistance programs.

If you’re a first-time homebuyer or have purchased a home in the past, below are the FHA requirements you need to meet to qualify for an FHA loan in California.

  • FICO score at least 580 = 3.5% down payment
  • FICO score between 500 and 579 = 10% down payment
  • Mortgage insurance is required
  • DTI of less than 43%
  • The home must be the borrower’s primary residence
  • The borrower must be employed and have a steady income

It’s important to note that these are the minimum requirements set by the FHA to qualify for a loan. Specific lenders will have their own set of qualifications that may be above what the FHA sets.

FHA Lenders California

Below are some of the most popular FHA lenders in Massachusetts along with their minimum FHA credit score requirements in order to qualify.

FAQ’s


What is the downside of an FHA Loan?

Borrowers who get an FHA loan can face higher interest rate costs and usually have to pay monthly mortgage insurance premiums if putting down less than 20%. In addition to this, FHA loans tend to be less flexible than conventional mortgages.