Hawaii has always played by its own rules — federal loan limits included. By statute, Alaska and Hawaii get elevated treatment: for 2026, Honolulu County's conforming limit is $1,249,125 — equal to the mainland's high-cost ceiling — and the FHA limit is $828,000.
The 2026 numbers
| County (Area) | 2026 Conforming Limit | 2026 FHA Limit (1-unit) |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu County (all of Oahu) | $1,249,125 | $828,000 |
Reading those numbers like a local
- Conforming covers more of Oahu than you'd think. With the single-family median hovering around the conforming line, a large share of Oahu purchases — and the majority of the condo market — can be financed with a conforming loan, keeping underwriting simpler than jumbo.
- FHA at $828,000 is a serious tool here, especially for the townhome and condo market from Ewa Beach to Salt Lake to Mililani. The FHA condo-approval requirement applies, so building eligibility is step one.
- VA is king on Oahu. With Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Schofield Barracks, MCBH Kaneohe, and one of the largest military communities in the country, VA's no-limit (with full entitlement), zero-down structure is often the strongest financing on the island.
The Oahu-only fine print
Two things mainland calculators never account for: leasehold properties (a meaningful slice of Oahu's condo stock is on leased land — financing and long-term value work differently; know the lease terms before you offer) and HOA/maintenance fees that can rival a car payment and directly reduce your qualifying amount. Both matter more to your Oahu budget than the loan limits do.
Beyond the limits
- Down payment help: the state's Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation and county programs offer assistance to eligible buyers; availability changes through the year.
- Neighbor islands differ. These figures are Honolulu County's; Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii counties carry their own 2026 limits.
Sources
- FHFA: Conforming Loan Limit Values for 2026 (announced Nov 25, 2025) and the FHFA 2026 county loan limit list
- HUD: FHA Announces 2026 Loan Limits, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23, and the HUD CHUMS county limit data file, CY2026
- VA home loan limits (no limit with full entitlement)
Loan limits shown are for one-unit properties; two- to four-unit properties have higher limits. All figures are current as of August 2026 and reset annually. Down payment assistance programs are administered by their respective agencies, have their own eligibility requirements, and change without notice. This is general information, not a loan offer or a commitment to lend — talk to a local Xpert loan officer for numbers specific to you.