2026 Loan Limits in Chicago and Cook County: FHA and Conventional

In 2026, the largest FHA loan you can get for a one-unit home in Chicago and the rest of Cook County is $541,287. The conventional conforming limit is $832,750. For a two-flat, the FHA limit rises to $693,050, which matters for buyers who plan to live in one unit and rent the other.

Last reviewed October 1, 2026 · Chicago First Time Home Buyer editorial team

Cook County loan limits for 2026

Property	FHA limit	Conventional conforming limit
1 unit (house, condo, townhome)	$541,287	$832,750
2 units (two-flat)	$693,050	Not listed here
3 units	$837,700	Not listed here
4 units	$1,041,125	Not listed here

FHA limits are set by HUD and conforming limits by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Cook County is not a designated high-cost area, so it uses the standard limits.

What the limits mean for a first-time buyer

The limit caps the loan, not the price. With a larger down payment, you can buy a home priced above the limit.
For comparison, the median sale price in the City of Chicago was $425,000 in July 2026, well under the one-unit FHA limit.
The higher two- to four-unit FHA limits make owner-occupied multi-unit buildings, a classic Chicago first purchase, easier to finance.
Assistance programs set their own price and income limits, which are often lower than these loan limits.

Common questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Chicago in 2026?

$541,287 for a one-unit home, $693,050 for two units, $837,700 for three units and $1,041,125 for four units.

What is the conforming loan limit in Cook County in 2026?

$832,750 for a one-unit home. Loans above that are jumbo loans, which usually have stricter requirements.

Loan limits are separate from the income and price rules of assistance programs; see down payment assistance programs in Chicago. For closing costs, see what it costs to buy a home in Chicago.