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.

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.

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 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.