Above the conforming limit. Bigger files, sharper underwriting.
Jumbo loans are mortgages above the conforming loan limit set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They're standard for higher-priced Northeast Florida purchases across Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Nassau counties.
What a jumbo loan is
A jumbo loan is any mortgage above the conforming limit ($832,750 for 2026 in NE Florida). Because jumbos can't be sold to Fannie or Freddie, lenders hold the risk on their balance sheet, so underwriting tightens: bigger reserves, stronger credit, more documentation.
Just over the line? Some wholesale lenders, Rocket among them, already lend up to $845,000 at conforming terms, ahead of FHFA's official 2027 update expected in November. If your loan falls between the current limit and that figure, Jason can check which lenders will treat it as conforming instead of jumbo.
Who qualifies
What jumbo underwriting expects.
Most jumbo programs start at 700. Best pricing at 740 and above.
10% possible with strong file; 20%+ unlocks better rates and skips PMI.
Months of mortgage payments in the bank after closing. More for larger loans.
Other qualifying considerations:
- Documentable income, with two years of tax returns or full W-2 history
- Debt-to-income typically capped at 43%, sometimes flexed for high-net-worth borrowers
- Property: primary residence, second home, or investment (rate increases as risk increases)
When jumbo is the right call
- Purchase price puts you above the conforming limit ($832,750+ in NE Florida after down payment)
- High income, strong credit, meaningful reserves
- Investor with portfolio approach to multiple high-value properties
- Refinance of an existing jumbo to capture rate improvement or cash out
Jumbo in St. Johns County and Ponte Vedra
Most jumbo files in Northeast Florida come from St. Johns County, especially Ponte Vedra Beach, Sawgrass and oceanfront homes. Two things come up there more than anywhere else:
- CDD assessments and HOA dues in newer communities count toward your debt-to-income ratio, which matters more on a large loan.
- Coastal insurance (wind, and flood where the home sits in a FEMA flood zone) is a bigger line in the monthly payment than buyers expect.
See our St. Johns County and Ponte Vedra page for the local detail, and Jumbo loans in St. Johns and Ponte Vedra for how the conforming limit decides whether your loan is jumbo.
When to look at other programs
- Just barely over the conforming limit: a piggyback (80% conforming first + 10% second + 10% down) may price better
- VA-eligible buyer: VA jumbo exists with 0% down and no PMI; almost always wins for veterans
- Cash flow tight: jumbo reserves requirement may be the binding constraint
Want a number before you talk to anyone? See what you can qualify for using this week's Freddie Mac rate. No application, no credit pull.
What buyers above the conforming limit ask.
What's the conforming loan limit?
Can I do a piggyback to avoid jumbo?
Is jumbo more expensive?
What about second homes and investment properties?
Related, in plain English.
- Jumbo Loans in St. Johns and Ponte Vedra
What makes a loan jumbo in St.
- How Much House Can You Afford in Jacksonville
How much house can you afford in Jacksonville comes down to your debt-to-income ratio.
- Should You Lock Your Mortgage Rate, or Wait?
Locking your mortgage rate stops the guessing.
Get a real jumbo quote today.
Nine wholesale lenders for jumbo files. Different lenders win different niches; we shop your file across all of them.