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.