About jumbo loans
A loan is considered jumbo if the amount of the mortgage exceeds loan-servicing limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — currently $806,500 for a single-family home in all states (except Hawaii and Alaska and a few federally designated high-cost markets, where the limit is $1,209,750).
To qualify for a mortgage on a $600000 home, a stable and sufficient income is essential. Lenders typically prefer a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of no more than 43%, although some may allow higher ratios depending on other factors like credit score and down payment size.
Jumbo loan limits
These limits vary by lender and location and are routinely adjusted based on prevailing market conditions. As of 2024, this limit is $766,550 for a single-unit house across most of the contiguous United States, though certain areas like Alaska and Hawaii have limits as high as $1,149,825.
A jumbo loan is a non-conforming loan for loan amounts greater than $766,550 for a single-family home.
To comfortably afford a $700,000 house, you'll likely need an annual income between $175,000 to $235,000, depending on your specific financial situation and the terms of your mortgage. Remember, just because you can qualify for a loan doesn't mean you should stretch your budget to the maximum.
Jumbo loans work differently than conventional mortgages. These loans have stricter requirements than other types of mortgages, and you'll have to meet very specific property type, down payment, credit score and debt-to-income ratio requirements to get one.
A “jumbo loan” refers to any conventional mortgage larger than the conforming loan limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) each year. In 2025, single-family mortgages with balances higher than $806,500 in most U.S. counties (and $1,209,750 in certain high-cost areas) are considered jumbo loans.
To afford a $600,000 house, you typically need to know how much income is required, which generally falls between $150,000 to $200,000 annually, depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions.
The qualification criteria for a $600k business loan include: Strong Credit History: Lenders typically require a credit score of 680 or higher. Regularly check and rectify any discrepancies in your credit report. Documented Business Revenue: Demonstrate a consistent revenue stream, preferably for the last two years.
The monthly payment for a $600,000 mortgage will depend on your loan term, interest rate, and other factors. At 7% interest, you can expect to pay nearly $4,000 monthly for a 30-year mortgage and roughly $5,400 for a 15-year mortgage (excluding property taxes, homeowners insurance, and other costs).
In general, a jumbo loan will have higher interest rate than a conventional loan. However, if you can prove that you are a high-income earner with definitive capability of paying back your loan, some lenders may deem you as lower risk and thus provide you with a comparable interest rate to a conventional loan.
Applicants can get home loan up to Rs. 15 crore*, based on their eligibility. Know the home loan eligibility criteria and documents required for home loan before applying.
2025 FHA County Loan Limits in California
The FHA's 2025 current floor is $524,225 and the ceiling is $1,209,750. FHA High Balance Jumbo loan limit – California FHA loan amounts in high-cost counties between $524,225 and $1,209,750 are referred to FHA jumbo loans or FHA high balance loans.
Most lenders require at least 10% of the home's value as a down payment on a jumbo loan, although some may ask for up to 30% to reduce their risk. If you put less than 20% down, you'll likely be required to have private mortgage insurance (PMI) until you have at least 20% equity in your house.
The maximum amount for a conforming loan in 2025 is $806,500 in most counties, as determined by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Homes that exceed the local conforming loan limit require a jumbo loan.
Qualification Thresholds for Jumbo Loans
There usually is a hard credit score minimum of 700, and many lenders may even require as high as 720 or 740. Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: The maximum DTI for a Jumbo loan is typically around 45%,though this can vary depending on the specific lender.
Jumbo loans are often ideal for individuals with substantial annual incomes who are looking to invest in high-value homes. For example, doctors, business executives, tech professionals, and other high earners can leverage jumbo loans to purchase homes that exceed the limits of conventional loans.
Higher credit scores are needed to qualify for a jumbo versus a conforming loan. You will need, at the very least, a minimum score of 700 (most likely) to qualify for one. “The average is around 740, although I have seen some as low as 660,” says Robert Cohan, president of Carlyle Financial based in San Francisco.
A jumbo loan is a mortgage that exceeds the conforming loan limit set by the FHFA for a given area. The most common conforming loan limit for 2025 is $806,500, which means any mortgage that's larger than that is a jumbo loan.
The monthly income rule
"You want to make sure that your monthly mortgage is no more than 28% of your gross monthly income," says Reyes. So if you bring home $5,000 per month (before taxes), your monthly mortgage payment should be no more than $1,400.
You can potentially avoid a jumbo loan by saving for a larger down payment. By saving more, you reduce the amount you need to borrow. You can also avoid applying for a jumbo loan by looking at less expensive properties you can finance with a conforming loan.