Florida FHA Loan Limits 2026: County-by-County Guide for Self-Employed Buyers
The FHA loan limit is the maximum mortgage amount the Federal Housing Administration will insure. It's set county by county based on the area's median home price and updated annually.
“Any individual who has a 25% or greater ownership interest in a business is considered to be self-employed.”
— Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-3.5-01, Income and Employment Documentation for the Self-Employed Borrower (updated December 13, 2023)
For self-employed buyers using Best Finance's 3.5% down P&L mortgage, the FHA county loan limit is also the cap on how much you can borrow under the program. Knowing your county's number is the first thing to check when sizing a purchase.
2026 FHA Baseline Loan Limit
The 2026 FHA baseline loan limit for a 1-unit property is $524,225. This applies in "low-cost" counties where the local median home price doesn't push the limit higher.
In "high-cost" counties — typically coastal markets with elevated home prices — the FHA limit can climb up to $1,209,750 for a 1-unit home in the highest-cost areas of the country.
Florida FHA Loan Limits by County (2026, 1-Unit)
Most Florida counties sit at or near the baseline. Coastal high-cost markets — particularly Monroe County (the Keys) and parts of South Florida — go higher. The table below covers the major counties most self-employed Florida buyers shop in.
| County | 2026 FHA Limit (1-unit) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough (Tampa) | $524,225 | Baseline |
| Pinellas (St. Pete) | $524,225 | Baseline |
| Orange (Orlando) | $524,225 | Baseline |
| Duval (Jacksonville) | $524,225 | Baseline |
| Miami-Dade | $644,000 | High-cost area |
| Broward (Fort Lauderdale) | $644,000 | High-cost area |
| Palm Beach | $644,000 | High-cost area |
| Monroe (Florida Keys) | $874,000+ | Highest in Florida |
| Collier (Naples) | $730,000+ | High-cost area |
| Lee (Fort Myers) | $524,225 | Baseline |
| Sarasota | $524,225 | Baseline |
| Brevard (Melbourne) | $524,225 | Baseline |
| Polk (Lakeland) | $524,225 | Baseline |
| Volusia (Daytona) | $524,225 | Baseline |
| Marion (Ocala) | $524,225 | Baseline |
Always confirm the current limit for your specific county at the time of application. The HUD county loan limit lookup tool publishes the official numbers.
How do loan limits affect your purchase price?
Your maximum purchase price = loan limit + your down payment.
With a 3.5% down P&L mortgage in a baseline county like Hillsborough or Orange, your math looks like:
- Loan amount cap: $524,225
- Required down payment (3.5%): about $19,000
- Maximum purchase price: about $543,000
In Miami-Dade or Broward, those numbers stretch:
- Loan amount cap: $644,000
- Required down payment (3.5%): about $23,300
- Maximum purchase price: about $667,000
What If You're Shopping Above the Limit?
The 3.5% down P&L program caps at the FHA county limit. If your target purchase price exceeds that cap, you have a few options:
- Increase your down payment. If you have the cash, putting more down can keep the loan amount under the cap.
- Consider a jumbo non-QM bank statement loan. These typically require 15–20% down but lend above the FHA limit.
- Shop slightly under. Many buyers find that adjusting the price target by $20,000–$50,000 brings the loan back inside the cap and unlocks the 3.5% down option.
Bottom Line
For the vast majority of self-employed Florida buyers — especially in Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, and most non-coastal markets — the 2026 FHA baseline of $524,225 covers their target purchase comfortably. That makes the 3.5% down P&L mortgage a real fit.
Want to know whether your specific county and price target work? Send us your scenario — we'll tell you in 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 FHA loan limit in Florida?
The baseline for a one-unit home is $524,225 and applies in most Florida counties, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Orange and Duval. High-cost counties such as Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Collier and Monroe are higher.
Does the FHA loan limit cap the purchase price?
It caps the loan amount. Maximum purchase price is roughly the limit plus your down payment: about $543,000 in a baseline county with 3.5% down.
What if the home I want is above the limit?
Put more down to bring the loan under the cap, shop slightly lower, or use a jumbo non-QM bank statement loan, which usually needs 15–20% down.
Do FHA loan limits change for a 2- to 4-unit home?
Yes. The limits rise with the number of units. A 2-unit in a baseline Florida county is capped higher than the 1-unit $524,225 figure; ask for the county table for the property you want.
Does the 3.5% down P&L program use the same limits?
Yes. It is an FHA-insured loan, so the county FHA limit is the maximum loan amount, and the purchase price can be higher only if you bring the difference as down payment.
Where do the official numbers come from?
HUD publishes the limits each December for the following year; Best Finance reads them from HUD's county lookup, not a third-party summary.
Sources
- HUD FHA mortgage limits lookup — official limits by county; confirm before applying
- HUD Handbook 4000.1
This is the whole income document.
One page per year: what you made, minus what you spent. You fill it in, sign it and date it. No accountant. No tax returns. (Lenders call this a P&L.)
Almost no other lender approves a 3.5%-down mortgage on this one sheet.
| Income — Services | $142,000 |
| Total Income | $142,000 |
| Material and Parts | $31,000 |
| Fuel and Vehicle Expenses | $9,500 |
| Misc / Other | $2,500 |
| Total Expenses | $43,000 |
| Profit | $99,000 |
Three expense lines and the rest blank. That is a complete worksheet.
Self-employed and shopping for a home?
Get a real pre-qual in 24 hours. 3.5% down. No tax returns required.