It's more difficult to qualify for a jumbo loan. Whereas the minimum credit score for a conforming loan is 620, you'll need a score of around 700 or higher to qualify for a jumbo mortgage. Jumbo loan rates tend to be slightly higher.
700+ credit score
A jumbo loan may require a minimum 700 credit score, which is significantly higher than the minimum required for conventional or government-backed loans.
Jumbo loans tend to require 20% down. They also have much stricter requirements when it comes to your financial situation, such as 12 months emergency supply (6 of which need to be in liquid accounts so no 401(k)).
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).
Do jumbo loans require mortgage insurance? Making a down payment of less than 20% normally means you have to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI). That's true for most jumbo loans as well as conforming mortgages. PMI can be pretty expensive — especially for jumbo loans.
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.
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.
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.
Debt-To-Income Ratio (DTI)
Conventional loans typically allow a DTI ratio up to 50%, while lower DTIs may result in more favorable terms and interest rates. On the other hand, jumbo loans typically allow a maximum DTI of 45%, although borrowers with 36% or lower may get better terms and rates.
With FICO, fair or good credit scores fall within the ranges of 580 to 739, and with VantageScore, fair or good ranges between 601 to 780. Many personal loan lenders offer amounts starting around $3,000 to $5,000, but with Upgrade, you can apply for as little as $1,000 (and as much as $50,000).
The conforming mortgage loan limit for a single-family home in 2025 is $806,500, an increase from $766,550 in 2024. Conforming loan limits are based on home prices throughout the U.S.
Borrowers typically seek jumbo loans to finance high-value homes for which more traditional mortgage options are limited.
Home loans below the limit are called conforming mortgages. Home loans above the conforming loan limit are called jumbo mortgages. A jumbo mortgage can have a fixed rate or an adjustable rate. A 30-year jumbo mortgage will have a loan term of 30 years.
Key Takeaways
It is possible to get a $100,000 personal loan, but it's challenging. Lenders don't typically offer loans as large as $100,000, with most banks and credit unions offering a maximum of $50,000. To qualify for a $100,000 personal loan, you'll need a credit score of 720 or above and a high income.
The Bottom Line. On a $70,000 salary using a 50% DTI, you could potentially afford a house worth between $200,000 to $250,000, depending on your specific financial situation.
According to the 28/36 rule, you should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing and no more than 36% on all debts. Housing costs can include: Your monthly mortgage payment. Homeowners Insurance.
Lenders will check the borrower's credit report to verify any critical financial details. If the lender spots any big purchases that significantly impact your financial picture, it's possible they won't finalize the mortgage. With that, it is important to wait until after closing day before making any big purchases.
Since jumbo loans carry higher loan amounts and pose higher risks to lenders, they often come with higher interest rates. Additionally, jumbo loans may require larger down payments and stricter qualification criteria compared to conventional 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.
To qualify for a jumbo loan, you'll need a higher credit score — and possibly a higher income, down payment or more assets — than you would for a conforming loan. For example, U.S. Bank calls for a minimum 740 credit score to be considered for a jumbo loan versus 620 for a conforming loan.
A “piggyback” second mortgage is a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) that is made at the same time as your main mortgage. Its purpose is to allow borrowers with low down payment savings to borrow additional money in order to qualify for a main mortgage without paying for private mortgage insurance.
The most important thing to know about PMI is that it's not forever. Generally, PMI can be removed from your monthly payments in two ways: when you pay your loan balance down below 80% of the purchase price of your home, or once you have achieved 20% equity in your home.