New Hampshire 10-County 2026 Conforming ($832,750+) and FHA ($541,287+) Loan Limits — Lilac Saltbox
Updated October 2026
Your property's county determines which 2026 mortgage limit applies, not the location of your lender or real estate agent. For a one-unit New Hampshire home, eight counties use the $832,750 baseline conforming limit, while Rockingham and Strafford receive higher limits within the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metropolitan area.
Locate the property before comparing loans
The 2026 FHA floor is $541,287. Rockingham and Strafford also have higher FHA limits, which must be checked separately rather than inferred from their conventional limits.
| New Hampshire county | One-unit conforming limit | One-unit FHA treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Belknap | $832,750 | $541,287 floor |
| Carroll | $832,750 | $541,287 floor |
| Cheshire | $832,750 | $541,287 floor |
| Coos | $832,750 | $541,287 floor |
| Grafton | $832,750 | $541,287 floor |
| Hillsborough | $832,750 | $541,287 floor |
| Merrimack | $832,750 | $541,287 floor |
| Rockingham | $920,000 | Higher county limit; verify HUD amount |
| Strafford | $920,000 | Higher county limit; verify HUD amount |
| Sullivan | $832,750 | $541,287 floor |
Use FHFA Loan Limits for the conforming county tables and HUD FHA Mortgage Limits for FHA figures. Select 2026 and the correct number of units. Two- through four-unit properties have different limits from the one-unit amounts shown here.
Separate the price from the mortgage amount
A loan limit is not a purchase-price ceiling. An $875,000 purchase with a $75,000 down payment produces an $800,000 base loan before any applicable adjustments, placing it below the baseline conforming limit.
Conversely, a low down payment on a higher-priced property can push financing beyond the county threshold. A conventional loan above that threshold generally enters jumbo territory, where reserve requirements and underwriting differ by lender.
County eligibility does not guarantee approval. Credit, income, debts, property condition, occupancy, and appraisal results still matter. FHA mortgage insurance also changes the cost comparison even when both FHA and conventional financing fit within their limits.
Turn the limit into a buying strategy
Compare multiple down payment amounts using the monthly payment calculator. Include mortgage insurance and the property's actual tax bill rather than comparing principal and interest alone.
Then review the mortgage options guide for conventional, FHA, VA, assistance, and jumbo pathways. New Hampshire Housing programs can introduce their own eligibility restrictions, so fitting under a county limit is only one step in choosing financing.
Compare Current Mortgage Rates
Compare current APRs, points, fees, and estimated monthly payments from participating lenders below.
Loan Program Comparison: 2026 Benchmarks
New Hampshire 10 County 2026 Conforming ($832,750+) and FHA ($541,287+) Loan Limits — Compare the 3.5% down option at 580+ FICO with 10% at 500–579, lender overlays, 1.75% upfront MIP and the applicable annual MIP tier.
Historical 2025 one-unit comparison: conforming $832,750; FHA floor $541,287. County and unit-count limits can differ.
| Loan program | Down payment / equity | 2026 one-unit baseline | Costs and page-specific comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHA | 3.5% at 580+; 10% at 500–579 | $541,287 floor | 1.75% upfront MIP; 0.55% annual for >95% LTV, base loan ≤$726,200, term >15 years |
| Conventional | 3%–5% subject to eligibility | $832,750 | PMI generally below 20% down |
| VA | 0% for eligible borrowers | No VA limit with full entitlement | No monthly PMI; funding fee unless exempt |
| USDA | 0% for eligible borrowers | Income, address and repayment eligibility | Guarantee and annual fees; confirm current schedule |
| Jumbo | Lender-specific cash and reserves | Above applicable conforming limit | Lender-specific pricing and insurance |
| Home Equity / Refinance | Equity and underwriting dependent | Property and lender dependent | Compare closing costs, term and break-even |
Sources: FHFA limits; HUD FHA limits.
Editorial Methodology & Primary Sources
Verification date: Not recorded; check the primary source and lender timestamp before relying on an estimate.
Rate comparisons use participating lender feeds, not a whole-market survey or guaranteed offers. Freddie Mac PMMS is a market benchmark, not a personalized quote. Calculator models rely on published regulatory formulas and disclosed assumptions rather than fabricated first-person loan testing.
Monthly principal and interest use the amortization formula P × r / (1 − (1 + r)−n), where r is the monthly note rate and n is the number of payments; at zero interest use P / n. PITI adds monthly property taxes and homeowners insurance; PMI is separate. APR includes applicable finance charges under Regulation Z and is not the note rate used for payments. Compare lender Loan Estimates for actual APR and fees.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — Loan Estimates, APR and borrower disclosures; Regulation Z.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD / FHA) — FHA program guidance.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — VA loan eligibility and benefits.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) — published rate benchmarks.
- U.S. Census state tax collections — state property tax benchmarks; confirm parcel-specific assessments and exemptions with the state revenue department and local assessor.
- New Hampshire Housing — state housing finance and property tax authority.
- New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration — state housing finance and property tax authority.
The payment snapshot uses illustrative annual taxes of 1% of home price, $1,200 insurance and 0.5% PMI below 20% down, not verified local quotes. Other calculators disclose their inputs and assumptions. Published guidance and lender feeds may change independently; confirm current program rules, taxes and offers before a decision.