VA jumbo loan limits in California and Hawaii 2026, no-down-payment ceiling
California and Hawaii have the highest VA loan limits in the country. For Veterans with full entitlement, those limits don't apply, but for partial entitlement, county limit is everything.
Full vs partial entitlement, the distinction matters
Veterans who've never used VA, or who've sold every prior VA-financed property with entitlement restored, have FULL entitlement. They face no VA loan limit. Theoretically a $5M zero-down VA loan is allowed (lender overlays usually cap at $1M-$2M, but VA's rule allows it).
Veterans with PARTIAL entitlement have a prior VA loan still outstanding or otherwise unrestored entitlement. Their no-down-payment loan size is capped at the destination county's loan limit. Above that, they need to put down 25% of the overage.
2026 California high-cost county limits
| County | 2026 one-unit limit |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, San Benito | $1,249,125 (FHFA ceiling) |
| San Diego | $1,104,000 |
| Ventura | $1,035,000 |
| Napa | $1,017,750 |
| San Luis Obispo | $1,000,500 |
| Monterey | $994,750 |
| Santa Barbara | $941,850 |
| Sonoma | $897,000 |
| All other CA counties | $832,750 (baseline) |
2026 Hawaii county limits
Hawaii is a special statutory area (like Alaska), so its 2026 one-unit baseline is $1,249,125: 150% of the mainland baseline. Honolulu County runs higher at $1,299,500 per Fannie Mae's 2026 loan-limit data. Confirm your county's current value before writing an offer.
| County | 2026 one-unit limit |
|---|---|
| Honolulu (Oahu) | $1,299,500 |
| Hawaii (Big Island) | $1,249,125 |
| Kauai | $1,249,125 |
| Maui | $1,249,125 |
Partial entitlement math example
Veteran with $112K of prior entitlement used (on a paid-off but not restored Texas home). Buying in San Diego at $1.5M. County limit = $1,104,000. Remaining guarantee = (25% × $1,104,000) − $112,000 = $164,000, good for roughly $656,000 of zero-down buying power. On the $1.5M purchase, the lender needs 25% coverage: 25% × $1,500,000 = $375,000, minus the $164,000 guarantee = $211,000 down. (Restoring the Texas entitlement first would make this a $0-down purchase, often worth doing.)
Common questions
How do I confirm my entitlement is full vs partial?
Request a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from VA. Shows your entitlement amount and any restrictions. Available through ebenefits.va.gov or your lender.
Can I do a VA jumbo on a high-cost county property as primary residence?
Yes, owner-occupied is the only requirement. Vacation or investment doesn't fit.
What's the rate spread on VA jumbo vs VA conforming?
There's no fixed spread over conforming. VA jumbo pricing varies by lender, loan size, and scenario. We price both paths on your numbers.
Does the disability rating exemption help with VA jumbo?
Yes, the funding fee waiver applies regardless of loan size. On a $1.5M jumbo, that's $32K+ saved at close.
How Mike + Cornerstone help
I'm Arizona-based but I write VA jumbos in California and Hawaii regularly for AZ Veterans relocating or buying second properties they'll occupy. We'll figure out your entitlement status first, then map the no-down-payment ceiling against your target market.
Talk to Mike first Get pre-approved
No pressure, no commitment. Free 20-minute consult. Mike will look at your scenario and tell you straight whether this works for you.