Portland's five core counties share one set of 2026 numbers: the national baseline conforming limit of $832,750 and an FHA limit of $701,500 — well above the national floor, reflecting where metro medians settled after the past few years' cooldown.
The 2026 numbers
| County (Area) | 2026 Conforming Limit | 2026 FHA Limit (1-unit) |
|---|---|---|
| Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Columbia, Yamhill | $832,750 | $701,500 |
One number for the whole metro means your search can roam from St. Johns to Beaverton to Happy Valley to Newberg without the FHA ceiling shifting under you.
The Portland read
- FHA reaches most of this market. At $701,500, the FHA limit covers the bulk of Portland's close-in neighborhoods and nearly everything in Washington and Columbia counties — 3.5% down remains a genuine option far beyond starter territory.
- Conforming covers nearly all the rest. The $832,750 line clears typical prices in all but the West Hills, Lake Oswego, and Dunthorpe tiers — and even there, down payment sizing often keeps loans conforming.
- Note for Vancouver shoppers: Clark County, WA prices off the same metro but is a different state — Washington-side programs and taxes differ, so cross-river comparisons need lender input on both.
Beyond the limits
- Down payment help: Oregon Housing and Community Services offers the Oregon Bond Residential Loan program and down payment assistance through approved lenders; terms and funding are updated through the year.
- VA buyers: no loan limit with full entitlement, typically nothing down.
- Oregon's property tax system is its own animal — assessed values compress under Measure 50 and vary between similar homes; underwrite the actual tax statement, not a percentage guess.
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.