A jumbo loan is a mortgage for an amount that exceeds the loan size limits set by the federal government. If you’re buying a mansion — or just a regular home in a high-priced area like Silicon Valley — you might need a jumbo loan.

Key takeaways

  • Jumbo loans come in larger amounts, typically for more expensive properties.
  • The size of a jumbo loan varies by geographic location, but is generally more than $726,200 in most parts of the U.S., and can be as high as $5 million
  • The interest rates on jumbo loans are different (usually higher) than those on regular, conforming mortgages.
  • Jumbo loans have stricter underwriting guidelines, such as higher credit scores, income/assets and down payment requirements.

What is a jumbo loan?

As the name implies, a jumbo loan covers a larger-than-normal loan amount. Jumbo loans can be used for primary homes, investment properties and vacation homes.

Many mortgage lenders offer jumbo loans up to $3 million or $5 million. You might be able to find jumbo loans in even higher amounts, especially if you work with a mortgage broker who specializes in them.

The maximum size of a jumbo loan varies by your mortgage lender and location, as does the exact qualifying guidelines.The interest rates on jumbo loans often differ from conforming loan rates, too. Traditionally, the jumbo rates run higher, though the gap has been narrowing of late; in fact, during the pandemic, jumbos were actually less expensive than conforming loans.

Because the market for jumbo loans is smaller, you might need to shop around a bit more to find a mortgage lender offering one. It is usually beneficial to work directly with a mortgage lender who specializes in them.

Aside from those distinctions, jumbo loans aren’t much different from traditional mortgages. The payment schedules and other details are generally the same. Borrowers can get fixed- or adjustable-rate jumbo mortgages with various term options.

Jumbo loans vs conforming loans

Most loans are conforming loans, meaning they conform, or follow, to specific criteria followed by mortgage guarantors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored agencies that buy most U.S. home loans. Jumbo loans do not adhere to these criteria; hence, they’re a type of non-conforming loan.

You’ll have more buying power with a jumbo loan than with a conforming loan, but you’ll pay more in interest since your balance is bigger. To qualify for a jumbo loan, you’ll need a higher credit score — and possibly a higher income or more assets — than you would for a conforming loan.

For example, one mortgage lender Bankrate reviewed calls for a minimum 680 credit score to be considered for a jumbo loan versus 620 for a conforming loan. Another mortgage lender asks for a 700 minimum score for a jumbo loan (again, vs 620 for a conforming loan). Overall, if you want to take one of these hefty loans out, you will need to make sure your credit is very good or excellent.

Jumbo loan limits

You need a jumbo loan if you want to finance a property that costs more than a certain amount the Federal Housing Finance Agency sets for your state each year. If a mortgage exceeds the FHFA’s “conforming loan limit,” market-makers Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae won’t back or purchase it, thus making it a riskier proposition for a lender.

For 2023, the limit for conforming loans for most of the continental U.S. is $726,200. In Hawaii, Alaska and certain counties where median home prices are significantly higher than average, the conforming loan limit goes up, too — as high as $1,089,300.


  • Loan limits by state

     

     

How to qualify for a jumbo loan

Jumbo lenders typically impose stricter underwriting guidelines than conforming-mortgages lenders do. Because the loans aren’t backed by Fannie or Freddie, jumbo mortgages pose more risk to the lender. On the flip side, lenders have more to gain — the dollar value of the loan is higher, so it’ll accrue a greater amount of interest. They’ll also be working with a more affluent class of borrower, who might be open to other elite products or services.

There are three common hurdles borrowers must clear to get approved for a jumbo loan: income, credit score and cash reserves (for making a down payment).

Jumbo loan income requirements

Yes, it’ll help if you have a large income — and, just as importantly, if you have a low-debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, the percentage of your monthly income that goes to debt payments. If your outgo is a significant part of your incoming — like more than one-third — you might not qualify for a jumbo loan unless your credit score is excellent or you have a sizable amount of reserves or liquid assets.

Jumbo loan credit score

Higher credit scores are needed to qualify for a jumbo versus a conforming loan. You will need, at the very least, a minimum score of 700 (most likely) to qualify for one. “The average is around 740, although I have seen some as low as 660,” says Robert Cohan, president of Carlyle Financial based in San Francisco. “[But] if you’re high-leveraged and you have a low credit score, it’s going to be hard to get a jumbo loan.”

Jumbo loan down payment

You may have to make a significant down payment to qualify for the jumbo loan. The down payment on a jumbo loan is typically 10 percent to 20 percent (and sometimes more). “Anything lower than a 10 percent down payment and you’re probably going to pay for it in higher rates,” says Cohan (assuming you can get the loan at all). Be prepared to show enough reserves, or liquid assets, to cover between six and 12 months’ mortgage payments.

Pros and cons of a jumbo loan

The main benefit is that a jumbo mortgage allows you to borrow more money than a traditional mortgage would. For instance, a jumbo loan makes it possible if you’d like to borrow $2 million against a $2.5 million home. Some borrowers prefer to finance more of the home’s cost rather than tying up cash, making the jumbo mortgage a helpful financial tool and part of an overall investment strategy. You can still get a competitive interest rate and finance the home of your choice without being restricted by the dollar limit on conforming mortgages.

Pros

  • Allows you to borrow more than a traditional mortgage
  • Competitive interest rates
  • Opportunity to buy a more expensive home

Cons

  • A higher credit score is required to qualify
  • A larger annual income may be needed
  • Must have cash reserves to cover 6 to 12 months of payments

How to get the best jumbo mortgage rate

If you would like to take out a jumbo mortgage, you’ll need to make sure your credit is very good to excellent, as a strong credit score is crucial for getting the best rates. Like any home loan, it is worth shopping around with lenders to see who might offer you the best rate. If you can put down a larger down payment — above and beyond the standard 20 percent — it may help you qualify for a lower rate as well.

Is a jumbo loan right for me?

Jumbos are meant for buyers with a substantial stable income and ample resources. You’ll need strong credit, a low debt-to-income ratio and at least six months of cash reserves to qualify.

Research the conforming loan limits in your region. If the homes you’re interested in buying do not fall within conforming loan guidelines, a jumbo loan might be an appropriate alternative — in fact, your only alternative, if you want to live in a high-cost region. That said, a jumbo loan is not for you, if it means you must stretch your financial limits to the brink.