San Francisco County, CA Conforming Loan Limit — 2026
2026 FHFA conforming loan limit for San Francisco County. This is a high-balance conforming area.
2026 Conforming Limit: $1,209,750High-Balance Area
Source: FHFA. Data as of 2025-01-15.
2026 Loan Limits — San Francisco County, CA
| Limit Type | 2026 Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FHA Loan Limit (1-unit) | $1,209,750 | Max loan for FHA-insured mortgage |
| Conforming Loan Limit (1-unit) | $1,209,750 | Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac eligible |
Source: HUD / FHFA. Data as of 2025-01-15.
Local Home Values & Affordability
With a median home value of $1,350,000, San Francisco County is 335% above the national median of $310,000 — placing it firmly in premium territory where careful loan-type selection matters.
Among the California counties we track, San Francisco County is one of the most expensive — comparable to Orange County ($1,050,000).
A 20% down payment on a median San Francisco County home requires $270,000 in cash — or $47,250 for an FHA-minimum 3.5% down payment. Buyers with less than 20% down will also need to budget for PMI or FHA MIP.
Property Tax in This Market
San Francisco County has one of the lowest property tax rates in our dataset at 0.65% — 41% below the national average of 1.10%. This keeps monthly PITI payments notably lower than in high-tax markets with comparable home values.
Based on the 0.65% effective rate and a median home value of $1,350,000, a typical homeowner in San Francisco County pays approximately $8,775 in annual property taxes — or $731 per month added to their mortgage payment.
Sources: Tax Foundation 2025
Homeowners Insurance Costs
Homeowners insurance in San Francisco County runs approximately $1,450/year ($121/month), in line with the national average of $1,600.
Premium quotes in San Francisco County typically range from $950 to $2,200 per year depending on home age, construction type, coverage limits, and your insurer. Always get multiple quotes.
Sources: NAIC 2024
Loan Limits & Financing Options
The median home price of $1,350,000 in San Francisco County can strain FHA eligibility — a 3.5%-down loan of $1,302,750 exceeds the county FHA limit of $1,249,125. Buyers may need a larger down payment to stay within FHA limits, or consider conventional financing.
San Francisco County is designated a high-cost area by both FHFA and HUD, meaning local FHA and conforming limits are elevated above the national baseline. This expanded purchasing power is a meaningful benefit for buyers compared to most-of-the-country baseline markets.
With 20% down on a median-priced home, the loan amount of $1,080,000 stays $169,125 below the $1,249,125 conforming limit — giving buyers access to conventional Fannie/Freddie pricing without jumbo underwriting.
Sources: HUD ML 2025-23, FHFA 2026
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