FHA loan limits set the maximum amount you can borrow using an FHA-insured mortgage. The limits are set by HUD each year and vary by county based on local home prices. In Florida, that means limits in Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Broward counties are higher than limits in rural central Florida counties. If you're planning to use FHA financing, knowing your county's limit before you start shopping is important — it directly affects which properties are in play.
2026 FHA Loan Limits for Key Florida Counties
For single-family homes, the 2026 FHA floor (the minimum for low-cost areas) is $524,225. The ceiling for high-cost areas in Florida is $1,209,750. Most Florida buyers fall somewhere in between.
Here are the confirmed 2026 limits for the most active Florida markets:
- Hillsborough County (Tampa): $563,500
- Pinellas County (St. Petersburg/Clearwater): $563,500
- Miami-Dade County: $621,000
- Broward County: $621,000
- Palm Beach County: $621,000
- Monroe County (Florida Keys): $1,209,750
- Orange County (Orlando): $563,500
- Duval County (Jacksonville): $546,250
Limits for 2-unit, 3-unit, and 4-unit properties are higher. Multi-family FHA limits can go 25% to 75% above the single-family limit depending on the county, which matters if you're thinking about buying with rental income in mind.
What Happens If the Home Costs More Than the Limit
If the home you want costs more than the FHA limit for your county, FHA financing isn't available for that property. You'd need to cover the difference with a larger down payment to bring the loan amount under the limit, switch to a conventional loan, or look at a jumbo loan if the purchase price is significantly above the limit.
This is one situation where understanding your full range of options matters. If you're shopping near or above the FHA limit, comparing loan types side by side — not just looking at the rate — is the right move. Our breakdown of FHA qualification factors covers how lenders evaluate your file when you're borderline on eligibility.
How FHA Loan Limits Affect First-Time Buyers in Tampa Bay
Hillsborough County's $563,500 FHA limit covers a solid portion of the Tampa Bay market, including most starter homes and mid-tier neighborhoods. It doesn't cover luxury properties in South Tampa or waterfront homes in Clearwater Beach, but buyers shopping in those price ranges are typically looking at conventional financing anyway.
For buyers in Pasco County (Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey) and Hernando County, the limit is $524,225 — the floor. That's enough to cover most of the entry-level and mid-market inventory in those areas as of early 2026.
Using FHA to Buy a Multi-Family Property
FHA loans can be used to buy 2-, 3-, or 4-unit properties as long as one unit is your primary residence. The higher multi-family limits mean you can often finance a duplex or triplex with FHA that would exceed the single-family limit. This is one of the most underused FHA strategies for buyers looking to offset their mortgage payment with rental income.
If you're considering this path, understanding how FHA mortgage insurance works across different property types is a good starting point — the cost structure differs slightly for multi-family purchases.
