By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: The 2026 Maui conforming loan limit is $1,299,500 for a one-unit home or condo, set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and in effect since January 1, 2026. Maui and Kalawao share the highest one-unit limit in the country. Loans above that amount are jumbo loans, which follow different lender rules.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui. On Maui, where the countywide single-family median is well over $1 million, the conforming loan limit quietly shapes a lot of purchase decisions: how much you put down, which lenders you talk to, and sometimes which price range you shop in. With mortgage rates at their highest level since 2023, here’s how the limit works and how to plan around it.

What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Maui County?

For 2026, it’s $1,299,500 for a one-unit property in Maui County. Kalawao County matches it, and Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi counties are at $1,249,125. These limits apply to loans delivered to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac on or after January 1, 2026.

Maui County, 2026	Conforming loan limit
1 unit	$1,299,500
2 units	$1,663,600
3 units	$2,010,950
4 units	$2,499,100

For comparison, FHFA’s national baseline for a one-unit property is $832,750. Hawaiʻi gets higher limits under special statutory provisions: FHFA set the 2026 baseline for Alaska, Hawaiʻi, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands at $1,249,125, with a ceiling of $1,873,675. Maui’s limit sits above that baseline because it’s tied to local home values.

What’s the difference between a conforming loan and a jumbo loan?

A conforming loan is at or under the FHFA limit and meets Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac standards, so lenders can sell it to them. A jumbo loan is larger than the limit, so the lender typically keeps it or sells it privately and sets its own rules.

In practice, jumbo programs vary more from lender to lender on down payment, credit score, cash reserves and pricing. That’s why two buyers with the same income can get very different answers on a $1.6 million loan.

How much do you need to put down to stay under the Maui limit?

It depends on the price. If your loan is the price minus your down payment, here’s the highest purchase price that keeps a one-unit loan at or under $1,299,500:

Down payment	Highest price with a conforming loan
5%	about $1,367,900
10%	about $1,443,900
20%	about $1,624,375
25%	about $1,732,700

Now compare that with what’s selling. According to the REALTORS® Association of Maui (RAM), January through September 2026:

• Countywide single-family median: $1,219,000
• Kīhei single-family median: $1,230,000
• Wailea/Mākena condo median: $2,085,000
• Wailea/Mākena single-family median: $2,900,000

At the countywide or Kīhei median, a buyer could stay conforming with a small down payment. At the Wailea/Mākena condo median, you’d need about $785,500 down (roughly 38%) to avoid a jumbo; at the Wailea/Mākena single-family median, about $1.6 million (roughly 55%). For a fuller picture of prices by neighborhood, see my Maui home prices by area guide.

What do monthly payments look like at today’s mortgage rates?

Freddie Mac’s weekly survey put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% on October 8, 2026, the highest since November 2023. At that rate, principal and interest alone would be about:

Loan amount	Monthly principal and interest at 7.40%
$832,750 (national baseline)	about $5,766
$1,299,500 (Maui limit)	about $8,997

Those figures exclude property taxes, insurance and any association dues, and your actual rate will vary. I go deeper on payment math in my post on Maui mortgage rates at 7.40%.

When will the 2027 Maui conforming loan limit be announced?

Likely in late November. FHFA announced the 2026 limits on November 25, 2025. FHFA adjusts the baseline each year using its House Price Index from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next. I wouldn’t count on a specific 2027 Maui number until FHFA publishes it; it could go up, stay flat or change less than you expect.

If you’re closing in early 2027 on a loan near today’s limit, ask your lender which year’s limit applies to your loan.

Does a conforming loan work for every Maui condo?

Not automatically. The loan amount is only half the test; the condo project also has to meet Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac eligibility rules. Hotel-zoned or condotel-style buildings often don’t qualify for conventional conforming financing, and new reserve requirements take effect January 4, 2027. I covered those rules in my post on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac condo rule changes.

My Take: What I’m Telling Buyers

If you’re shopping near the $1.3 million to $1.7 million range, run two scenarios with your lender before you start touring: one with enough down to stay conforming, and one jumbo. Compare rate, required reserves and total cash to close side by side. Sometimes a slightly larger down payment, or a modestly lower offer price, keeps you under the limit and opens up more lenders.

Ask lenders whether a loan above the $832,750 national baseline is priced as a “high-balance” conforming loan in their program, and get quotes from at least two or three, including a local Hawaiʻi lender. If you’re buying a condo, ask early whether the specific project is eligible for conventional financing, before you pay for an inspection.

For sellers in the $1.4 million-plus range, it’s worth knowing that many buyers are doing this same math. Pricing that works for a buyer at 10% or 20% down with a conforming loan can widen your buyer pool.

General information, not tax, legal or financial advice; confirm loan terms with a licensed mortgage lender, and tax or legal questions with a CPA or Hawaiʻi attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2026 conforming loan limit for Maui?
$1,299,500 for a one-unit property, effective January 1, 2026, per FHFA’s county loan limit table.

Is Maui’s limit the highest in the U.S.?
Maui and Kalawao counties share the highest one-unit conforming limit in the country for 2026.

Is a $1.3 million Maui loan a jumbo?
A loan over $1,299,500 on a one-unit property is above the 2026 Maui conforming limit, so it would generally be a jumbo loan.

Does the conforming limit apply to duplexes?
Yes, with higher limits: $1,663,600 for two units in Maui County in 2026.

When will 2027 limits come out?
FHFA typically announces them in late November; the 2026 limits were announced November 25, 2025.

Ask Benjamin

Want help matching a price range to your financing before you start shopping? I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui. Call or text 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com.

Sources: Federal Housing Finance Agency (2026 conforming loan limit announcement, Nov. 25, 2025); American Savings Bank (2026 Hawaiʻi county loan limits); Hoodline (Dec. 1, 2025); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (Oct. 8, 2026); REALTORS® Association of Maui (Jan.–Sept. 2026 sales report); Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac condo project guidance.