Loan programs · Jumbo
Financing for higher ground.
When the home is worth more than the conforming ceiling, you need a jumbo loan — and a broker who shops it hard. Here's how it works in Orange County's higher-value market.
What is a jumbo loan?
A jumbo loan is a mortgage above your area's conforming limit — in Orange County, that's anything financed above $1,249,125 in 2026. It's the everyday tool for higher-value homes. As a broker, Choice Home Mortgage shops hundreds of jumbo lenders to match your price point to the right program.
Jumbo loans, explained in 30 seconds.
Buying a higher-value home? Here's the whole idea — quick, clear, and friendly.
The loan for homes above the line.
A jumbo loan is a mortgage that exceeds the conforming loan limit set for the area. In high-cost Orange County, that ceiling is $1,249,125 for a one-unit home in 2026 — so anything financed above that figure is, by definition, jumbo.
In a market where so many OC homes sit above that number, jumbo isn’t exotic — it’s the everyday tool for buyers and homeowners at higher price points. What changes is the underwriting: jumbo lenders tend to want stronger credit and cash reserves, and their terms vary widely from one lender to the next.
That variation is precisely why working with a broker, not a bank pays off on a jumbo file. We shop hundreds of jumbo lenders against each other and bring back the strongest structure for your goals. Buying a higher-value home? Start here — and if you already own one, a jumbo refinance may make sense too.
What a jumbo loan unlocks.
Above the conforming ceiling
Jumbo financing covers Orange County homes priced beyond the $1,249,125 high-balance limit — exactly where OC's market often lives.
Higher loan amounts
From just over the conforming line up to $3M and beyond, depending on the lender and your profile. One file, real options.
Reserves matter
Jumbo lenders typically want stronger credit and cash reserves. We tell you exactly what each lender expects before you apply.
Broker-shopped pricing
Jumbo terms vary widely between lenders. As a broker, we put many side by side and bring back the strongest fit for your file.
Flexible structures
Fixed, adjustable, interest-only for some — jumbo programs offer structures conforming loans don't. We match the structure to your plan.
One expert, start to finish
Owner Esther Buede handles your jumbo loan personally — high-value files deserve a steady hand, not a queue.
Jumbo loan questions, answered.
What makes a loan a jumbo loan?
A jumbo loan is any mortgage above the conforming loan limit for the area. In high-cost Orange County, that ceiling is $1,249,125 for a one-unit home in 2026 — so financing above that amount is considered jumbo.
How much can I borrow with a jumbo loan?
Jumbo programs reach well into the millions — commonly up to $3M and higher depending on the lender, the property, and your financial profile. Because we shop many jumbo lenders, we can match your price point to the right program rather than forcing one box to fit.
Do I need a bigger down payment for a jumbo loan?
Often, yes — jumbo lenders typically want more equity than a conforming loan, though requirements vary by lender and scenario. We'll lay out the real down-payment options for your situation before you commit to anything.
What credit and reserves do jumbo lenders want?
Jumbo underwriting generally leans toward stronger credit and meaningful cash reserves (months of payments set aside), since the loan amounts are larger. Every lender draws the line differently, which is exactly why shopping them matters.
Is a jumbo loan harder to get than a regular mortgage?
It's more thorough, not impossible. Jumbo files get a closer look at income, assets, and reserves. With an owner guiding the file and the right lender matched up front, it's a smooth path — and one we handle regularly in Orange County.
What is a jumbo loan, in simple terms?
A jumbo loan is simply a home loan that's too big to fit the standard ('conforming') size limits set each year by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. When you borrow more than your county's conforming limit, the loan can't be sold to those agencies, so it's funded differently — that's a jumbo loan. The amount that counts as 'jumbo' depends entirely on where you're buying.
What's the difference between a jumbo loan and a conventional loan?
A conventional (conforming) loan stays at or below the annual conforming limit for your area and follows Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac guidelines. A jumbo loan is above that limit and follows the individual lender's own guidelines instead — which usually means a closer look at credit, income, and cash reserves. In Orange County the dividing line for 2026 is $1,249,125: at or below is conforming, above is jumbo. Because we're a broker, we shop both so you land in the right one.
Can I get a 30-year fixed jumbo mortgage?
Yes. Jumbo loans come in the same familiar terms as conforming loans — including 30-year and 15-year fixed — plus adjustable-rate and, with some lenders, interest-only options. We match the structure to your plans and shop lenders for the strongest fit.
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A family-owned Orange County mortgage broker, serving buyers and homeowners across California.
Finance the home you actually want.
One call with the owner — no queue, no pressure. We'll show you the real jumbo options for your price point and tell you honestly what each lender will expect.