FHA Loan Limits and USDA Eligibility in San Diego County, California

2026 FHA one-unit limit in San Diego County is $1,104,000. Two-unit is $1,413,350, three-unit is $1,708,400, and four-unit is $2,123,100. USDA 502 Guaranteed 1–4 person moderate income is $201,100. ZIP centers in the table below are marked likely eligible or likely not eligible for USDA. Official eligibility is still the property address.

2026 FHA Loan Limits Map for California

California one-unit limits: —
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Standard Floor: $541,287Mid-Tier: $541,288–$750,000High-Cost: $750,001–$1,000,000Elite Zone: $1,000,001+

FHA Eligibility Requirements

You need to meet all six. Loan limits in San Diego County are set by county. DTI is a lender call. An FHA lender confirms the official answer.

3.5% down payment

Minimum is 3.5% (580+ score) or 10% (500–579). FHA allows the full amount to come from a gift: family, employer, labor union, or an approved program. A signed gift letter is required.

Credit score 580+ for 3.5% down

580+ qualifies for 3.5% down. 500–579 generally requires 10% down. Lenders often set their own floor above the FHA minimum.

Debt-to-income within FHA guidelines

Guidelines target a housing ratio around 31% and total DTI around 43%. Automated underwriting can approve stronger files above those thresholds. Manual underwriting uses tighter caps.

Check DTI on the affordability calculator

Primary residence only

The home must be your main residence, not a second home or investment property. You must move in within the timeline FHA and your contract require.

1–4 unit home that meets FHA standards

One-to-four unit homes, FHA approved condos, and some manufactured homes that meet FHA rules. For 2–4 units you must live in one unit. The home must pass an FHA appraisal.

Loan amount at or below the county limit

2026 one-unit limits start at $541,287 in most counties and go up to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas. 2–4 unit limits are higher. Enter a ZIP to see every FHA county on that ZIP.

See 2026 FHA loan limits

USDA Property Eligibility and Income Limits Map for California

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EligibleIneligibleUSDA ineligible boundary

USDA Eligibility Requirements

You need to meet all six. Property location and income in San Diego County vary by area. A USDA approved lender confirms the official answer.

Property in a USDA eligible area

The home must be in a USDA designated rural or suburban area. Over 97% of U.S. land qualifies, including many suburbs near major cities. Use the eligibility map to check any address.

Check your area on the map

Household income at or below the area limit

USDA caps household income at 115% of the area median, with a national floor of $122,800 for 1–4 person households. Every adult in the home counts, not just borrowers. Deductions for dependents and childcare can help.

Check income limits for your ZIP

Primary residence only

The home must be your full-time primary residence. Investment properties and second homes are not eligible. You must intend to occupy the home within 60 days of closing.

Single-family property (1 unit)

USDA Guaranteed loans cover single-unit homes only. Duplexes and multi-unit properties do not qualify, even with owner occupancy. Condos and manufactured homes are eligible under specific conditions. For house-hacking a 2–4 unit property, FHA and VA are the right tools. USDA is not.

U.S. citizenship or qualified alien status

You must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. non-citizen national, or qualified alien. Permanent residents with a green card generally qualify. Your lender will verify documentation.

Credit score 640+ typical

USDA does not set a hard credit floor, but most lenders require 640+ for streamlined approval. Some lenders go lower with compensating factors. Your full credit profile (payment history, DTI, reserves) matters as much as the score.

San Diego County FHA Limits, USDA Income, and ZIP Eligibility

FHA one-unit caps are county. USDA 1–4 person guaranteed income can split a county; when a ZIP lists more than one cap, both are listed. USDA property is a first look from each ZIP’s geographic center versus USDA ineligible-area boundaries — the official test is the address. City is the USPS primary city for that ZIP; a city is not USDA eligible or ineligible as a whole.

Cities in San Diego County: Alpine, Bonita, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Boulevard, Camp Pendleton, Campo, Cardiff By The Sea, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, Descanso, Dulzura, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Guatay, Imperial Beach, Jacumba, Jamul, Julian, La Jolla, La Mesa, Lakeside, Lemon Grove, Mount Laguna, National City, Oceanside, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Pine Valley, Potrero, Poway, Ramona, Ranchita, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, San Marcos, San Ysidro, Santa Ysabel, Santee, Solana Beach, Spring Valley, Tecate, Valley Center, Vista, Warner Springs

ZIPCityUSDA propertyFHA one-unit loan limitUSDA 1–4 person moderate income
91901AlpineLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91902BonitaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91905BoulevardLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91906CampoLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91910Chula VistaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91911Chula VistaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91913Chula VistaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91914Chula VistaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91915Chula VistaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91916DescansoLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91917DulzuraLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91931GuatayLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91932Imperial BeachLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91934JacumbaLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91935JamulLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91941La MesaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91942La MesaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91945Lemon GroveLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91948Mount LagunaLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91950National CityLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91962Pine ValleyLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91963PotreroLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91977Spring ValleyLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91978Spring ValleyLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
91980TecateLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92003BonsallLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92004Borrego SpringsLikely eligible$1,104,000$124,900 to $201,100
92007Cardiff By The SeaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92008CarlsbadLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92009CarlsbadLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92010CarlsbadLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92011CarlsbadLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92014Del MarLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92019El CajonLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92020El CajonLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92021El CajonLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92024EncinitasLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92025EscondidoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92026EscondidoLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92027EscondidoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92028FallbrookLikely eligible$1,104,000$141,450 to $201,100
92029EscondidoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92036JulianLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92037La JollaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92040LakesideLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92054OceansideLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92055Camp PendletonLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92056OceansideLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92057OceansideLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92058OceansideLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92059PalaLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92060Palomar MountainLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92061Pauma ValleyLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92064PowayLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92065RamonaLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92066RanchitaLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92067Rancho Santa FeLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92069San MarcosLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92070Santa YsabelLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92071SanteeLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92075Solana BeachLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92078San MarcosLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92081VistaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92082Valley CenterLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92083VistaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92084VistaLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92086Warner SpringsLikely eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92091Rancho Santa FeLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92101San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92102San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92103San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92104San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92105San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92106San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92107San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92108San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92109San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92110San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92111San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92113San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92114San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92115San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92116San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92117San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92118CoronadoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92119San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92120San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92121San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92122San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92123San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92124San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92126San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92127San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92128San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92129San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92130San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92131San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92134San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92139San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92154San DiegoLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100
92173San YsidroLikely not eligible$1,104,000$201,100

Connect with a Lender in San Diego County

Connect with a lender to confirm FHA loan limits, USDA income limits, and a specific California address. Only a lender can confirm your official eligibility.

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Loan Options in San Diego County

A licensed lender can confirm USDA property eligibility, household income, and the FHA county cap for a specific San Diego County address. Then they can match you if you qualify.

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