Jumbo Loans and Loan Limits in Ventura County

A jumbo loan is a mortgage for more than the conforming loan limit, the largest loan Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy from a lender. Ventura County is a high-cost area, so its limit sits well above the national baseline, but in parts of the Conejo Valley and along the coast, home prices can still put the loan amount past it. This page gives you the current Ventura County loan limits, explains how the limit is measured, and covers how jumbo loans differ from conforming loans.

I’m Edgar Limon, a REALTOR® with Century 21 Masters and a licensed mortgage loan officer with 21st Century Lending, so I know both sides of a jumbo purchase: the house and the loan. I write your offer and refer your financing to my lending team, which works with over 30 lenders, so jumbo programs can be compared before you shop at a price where the limit matters.

Ventura County loan limits for 2026

These are the 2026 one-unit limits for Ventura County, which HUD lists as the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura metro area:

Conforming (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac), one unit	$1,035,000
FHA, one unit	$1,035,000

Limits reset every January: FHFA sets the conforming limit and HUD sets the FHA limit, and both usually announce the next year’s figures late in the year. You can check the current numbers on FHFA’s conforming loan limit page and HUD’s FHA mortgage limits lookup.

Because Ventura County is a high-cost area, its conforming limit is higher than the 2026 national baseline of $832,750. A loan between the two is often called a high-balance conforming loan. It still follows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rules, and Fannie Mae’s Selling Guide gives high-balance loans a chapter of their own, with separate eligibility, underwriting and pricing sections (chapter B5-1). The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau calls these “conforming jumbo” loans, so you may see that name too. A one-unit loan above $1,035,000 is a jumbo loan. Two to four unit properties have higher 2026 limits in Ventura County: $1,325,000 for two units, $1,601,600 for three and $1,990,450 for four, the same for conforming and FHA.

The limit applies to the loan amount, not the price

This is the part that catches people out. The limit is measured against what you borrow, not what the home costs. Your loan amount is the part of the purchase you finance, not the price, so a home priced above the limit can still be financed with a conforming or FHA loan as long as the loan amount stays at or under it. For FHA, HUD measures the limit before any upfront mortgage insurance premium that is added to the loan (HUD Handbook 4000.1). Which side you land on depends on how much of your own money goes in, and that is worth working out with real numbers before you start touring homes.

Where the question comes up

Conejo Valley pricing puts this question in play often. Prices in these areas can put a purchase near the limit:

• Thousand Oaks: larger single-family homes, hillside properties and the newer homes around Lang Ranch.
• Westlake Village: lakefront and hillside homes. The community straddles the county line. The City of Westlake Village is in Los Angeles County, where FHFA’s 2026 one-unit limit is $1,249,125, and the Westlake area on the Ventura County side is part of Thousand Oaks, under Ventura County’s $1,035,000 limit. Check which county a home is in before you plan the loan.
• Newbury Park: larger homes and properties with views or bigger lots.
• Oak Park: limited supply and Conejo Valley pricing can put the loan amount near or above the limit.
• Ojai: hillside homes, larger lots and agricultural parcels at the upper end of the market.
• Ventura: beachfront and near-beach homes around Pierpont and canal-front homes in the Ventura Keys.

It comes up less often in Simi Valley, Santa Paula and Fillmore, where more homes sell at prices that keep the loan under the limit.

How jumbo loans differ from conforming loans

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not buy jumbo loans, so each lender that makes one keeps the risk or sells it privately. That is why jumbo standards are set lender by lender instead of by one national guide, and why they vary more from one lender to the next. The differences below are general patterns, not any single lender’s rules. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that jumbo borrowers usually need good credit and a larger down payment, and that a jumbo loan can cost more than a conforming one.

Higher credit expectations

Jumbo lenders generally expect stronger credit than conforming programs do. There is no single jumbo minimum score, because each lender sets its own, and stronger credit usually opens more program choices. If your score needs work, my credit score guide is a good place to start.

A larger down payment

Jumbo programs usually ask for a larger down payment than conforming loans. The amount depends on the lender, the loan size, the property type and whether you will live in the home, so I don’t quote one figure for every buyer. A quote built on your real income, assets and credit is the reliable answer.

Cash reserves after closing

Jumbo lenders generally want to see savings left over after closing, called reserves, such as money in checking, savings, investment or retirement accounts. How much depends on the lender and the loan size. Plan your purchase so the cash you bring to closing does not use up everything you have, because a buyer can have the funds to close and still come up short on reserves.

Debt-to-income review

Jumbo lenders review your debt-to-income ratio closely, and because there is no one national jumbo guide, each lender sets its own limit. My debt-to-income guide explains how the ratio is figured.

Deeper documentation

Expect a closer look at income and assets: tax returns, pay stubs, bank and investment statements, and written explanations for large deposits. If you are self-employed, plan on extra paperwork, and request a quote so I can tell you what your file will need.

Lender by lender

Because every jumbo program is its own set of rules, a buyer who does not fit one lender’s program may fit another’s. My lending team works with over 30 lenders, so your file can be compared across programs instead of being matched to one. Approval is never guaranteed and every loan is subject to the lender’s review.

Pricing moves with the market

Jumbo pricing is set by each lender and changes with market conditions. Sometimes it compares well with conforming pricing and sometimes it does not, so compare the two at the time you apply rather than assuming.

Mortgage insurance

Whether a jumbo program uses mortgage insurance depends on the lender and the program, so confirm it on your quote. Requirements vary by lender. My mortgage insurance guide explains how PMI works on conforming loans.

Appraisals

In areas with few comparable sales, such as parts of Ojai and the hillside areas of the Conejo Valley, a jumbo appraisal can take more work. Build some extra time into your contract timeline and ask about appraisal requirements early.

VA loans above the conforming limit

If you are an eligible veteran or service member, check your VA benefit before you assume jumbo financing is your only path. VA.gov’s loan limits page says there is no VA loan limit for borrowers with full entitlement. Your lender still has to approve the loan based on your credit, income, debts and assets, and the loan cannot be more than the lower of the price or the appraised value. If part of your entitlement is still tied to another VA loan, the Ventura County limit still factors into your VA loan, per the same VA.gov page. My VA home loans in Ventura County guide covers the details.

Getting ready for a jumbo purchase

• Get a quote first. Request a free quote with your real income, assets and credit before you tour homes priced where your loan amount could reach the limit.
• Gather your paperwork. Recent tax returns, pay stubs and account statements, plus a note on any large deposits.
• Leave room for reserves. Know what you will have left after closing, not only what you need to close.
• Plan for the appraisal. Ask how the lender handles appraisals at your price point and build that time into your offer.

Not sure which side of the limit your purchase lands on? Request a quote or send me your numbers, and I will walk you through it in one conversation, along with what it changes about your timeline. You are free to choose any lender, and if you already have one, I’m glad to work with them.

Common questions

What is the conforming loan limit in Ventura County?

The 2026 conforming loan limit for a one-unit home in Ventura County is $1,035,000, per FHFA. Ventura County is a high-cost area, so its limit is higher than the national baseline of $832,750. FHFA resets conforming limits every January.

What is the FHA loan limit in Ventura County?

HUD’s 2026 FHA limit for a one-unit home in Ventura County is $1,035,000, the same as the conforming limit. HUD resets FHA limits every January, so check HUD’s FHA mortgage limits lookup for the current figure.

Does the loan limit apply to the purchase price?

No. The limit applies to the loan amount, the part of the purchase you finance, not the price. A home priced above the limit can still have a conforming or FHA loan if the loan amount stays at or under the limit. For FHA, HUD measures the limit before any upfront mortgage insurance premium added to the loan.

Do jumbo loans need a bigger down payment?

Usually, yes. Jumbo programs generally ask for a larger down payment than conforming loans, and the amount depends on the lender, the loan size, the property type and your full financial picture. Requirements vary by lender, so a quote built on your real numbers is the reliable answer.

What credit score do I need for a jumbo loan?

There is no single answer, because each jumbo lender sets its own minimum. In general, jumbo lenders expect stronger credit than conforming programs do, and stronger credit usually opens more program choices. Requirements vary by lender and can change.

Do jumbo loans require mortgage insurance?

Whether a jumbo program uses mortgage insurance depends on the lender and the program, so confirm it on your quote. Requirements vary by lender.

Can I use a jumbo loan for an investment property?

Some lenders offer jumbo loans for second homes and investment properties, often with stricter requirements than for a home you will live in. Requirements and pricing vary by lender, so ask about them on your quote.

Disclosures

Edgar Limon, REALTOR®, CA DRE #02225743, with Century 21 Masters. Each office is independently owned and operated. Mortgage loan originator, NMLS #2256286, with 21st Century Lending, NMLS #241835, a division of Full Realty Services, Inc. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act and California Financing Law. Loans made or arranged pursuant to a California Financing Law license. Verify licenses at NMLS Consumer Access. Century 21 Masters and 21st Century Lending are affiliated companies. You are not required to use 21st Century Lending, or any particular lender, as a condition of working with me, and if I act as both your agent and your loan officer, I disclose both roles and how I am paid to you in writing. I am not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, HUD, USDA or any government agency. This page is general information, not a commitment to lend, and not tax or legal advice. All loans are subject to credit approval, eligibility, appraisal and property requirements. Programs can change. Equal Housing Opportunity. Equal Housing Lender.