Texas keeps its lending map simple in one way and surprising in another. Every county in the state shares the same conforming loan limit — no high-cost counties here, because Texas prices, while rising, still sit below the federal high-cost thresholds. But FHA limits are set metro by metro from local median prices, and the four big Texas markets each landed in a different place for 2026.
The 2026 numbers, metro by metro
The conforming loan limit is $832,750 in every Texas county for 2026 — up from $806,500 in 2025. FHA is where geography matters:
| County (Area) | 2026 Conforming Limit | 2026 FHA Limit (1-unit) |
|---|---|---|
| Travis, Williamson, Hays (Austin metro) | $832,750 | $571,550 |
| Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton (DFW) | $832,750 | $563,500 |
| Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe (Greater San Antonio) | $832,750 | $557,750 |
| Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend (Greater Houston) | $832,750 | $541,287 |
Austin: the highest FHA ceiling in Texas
Austin's three core counties carry the state's top FHA limit at $571,550 — about $30,000 more FHA buying power than Houston. After several flat years in the Austin market, that limit covers a meaningful share of inventory inside the loop and most of the suburbs, which makes FHA's 3.5% down payment a realistic path for buyers who assumed they'd priced out of it.
DFW and San Antonio: the middle lanes
The DFW counties sit at $563,500 and Greater San Antonio at $557,750. In both metros the practical story is the same: the FHA limit comfortably clears typical prices in most neighborhoods, so the choice between FHA and conventional usually comes down to credit profile and mortgage insurance math rather than the limit itself.
Houston: at the national floor — and that's fine
Harris, Montgomery, and Fort Bend counties are at the national FHA floor of $541,287. Don't read that as a limitation — it reflects Houston's famously attainable prices. At typical Houston-area price points, the floor covers the overwhelming majority of homes on the market, and the conforming limit of $832,750 is far above what most Houston buyers borrow.
Beyond the limits
- VA buyers: Texas has one of the largest veteran populations in the country, and VA loans carry no loan limit with full entitlement — often with nothing down.
- Down payment help: Texas runs statewide assistance through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (My First Texas Home) and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation. Programs, funding, and eligibility change through the year — a local loan officer can tell you what's actually available for your scenario.
- Property taxes, not limits, are the Texas gotcha. With no state income tax, Texas property tax rates run higher than most states — build the real tax bill into your budget from day one.
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.