Contra Costa Conforming and Jumbo Loan Limits for 2025

There’s good news for home buyers in Contra Costa County who need to use a mortgage loan to make a purchase.

Federal housing officials have increased the conforming loan limits for Contra Costa County in 2025. This also means that the jumbo mortgage threshold has gone up.

These changes will give home buyers in Contra Costa County a higher level of financing to work with, without the extra scrutiny that comes with a jumbo loan.

Conforming Loan Limits for Contra Costa County

A conforming loan is one that meets (or “conforms”) to the underwriting guidelines used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

These two organizations buy mortgage products from lenders, securitize them, and then sell them off to investors. All of this occurs in what’s known as the “secondary” mortgage market.

But Fannie and Freddie can only purchase loans up to a certain amount. These maximum amounts are referred to as “conforming loan limits” and they vary from one county to the next.

Here are the 2025 conforming loan limits for Contra Costa County:

• 1-unit property: $1,209,750
• 2-unit property: $1,548,975
• 3-unit property: $1,872,225
• 4-unit property: $2,326,875

Notes: In this context, a “1 unit” property is a standard single-family home. A 2-unit property is a property with two residents, such as a duplex. And so on.

Jumbo Loans Exceed the Conforming Caps

When a home loan exceeds the size limits used by Fannie and Freddie, it’s known as a jumbo mortgage.

As mentioned above, the 2025 conforming loan limit for a single-family home in Contra Costa County is $1,209,750. So if a borrower takes out a conventional loan for more than that amount, they’re using a jumbo mortgage product.

But what does this mean exactly? How do these labels actually affect borrowers?

Here are some key differences you should know about:

• Down payment: Jumbo loans often require larger down payments. While conforming loans offer down payment as low as 3% for certain borrowers, jumbo mortgages typically require at least 10% and sometimes more.
• Credit scores: While there is no standard credit score requirement across the board, jumbo loans usually require borrowers to have a higher credit score. A higher score represents a lower risk to the lender.
• Cash reserves: Some mortgage lenders require jumbo loan borrowers to have several months worth of cash reserves in the bank. But this requirement can vary and not all lenders require it.
• Higher income: Borrowers seeking a jumbo loan in Contra Costa County should have sufficient income that allows them to repay the loan on top of other recurring expenses.

Changes Made Due to Rising Home Prices

Conforming loan limits are based on median home values and are usually consistent across metro areas. So the jumbo loan threshold for Contra Costa County (i.e., anything above $1,209,750) applies to most other Bay Area counties as well.

These limits can also go up from one year to the next, due to rising home prices. This is what happened from 2024 to 2025. Home values in most cities across the U.S. rose during 2024, prompting federal housing officials to increase the conforming loan limits.

Here’s how the Federal Housing Finance Agency explained it in a news release:

“According to the nominal, seasonally adjusted, expanded-data FHFA HPI, house prices increased 5.21 percent, on average, between the third quarters of 2023 and 2024. Therefore, the baseline CLL in 2025 will increase by the same percentage.”

Home prices in Contra Costa County remained mostly flat during the above timeframe. But the loan limits still went up due to price gains in other parts of California and the U.S.

How These Limits Align With Home Values

At the start of 2025, the median home price in Contra Costa County, California was around $810,000, according to Zillow.

In contrast, the 2025 conforming loan limit and jumbo threshold for the county has gone up to $1,209,750, for the entire calendar year.

This is good news for home buyers in Contra Costa and across the East Bay. It means that buyers have plenty of financing range to work with.

Some counties in California (like Santa Clara) have median home prices well above the conforming loan limit. As a result, many home buyers have to rely on jumbo mortgage financing with the additional scrutiny that brings.

This is less of an issue in Contra Costa County, due to the lower median price point.

Key Points to Take Away From This

We’ve covered a lot of information in this guide, and it’s a confusing subject. So let’s wrap up with a quick summary.

• The conforming loan limits for Contra Costa County have been increased for 2025. The maximum (conforming) mortgage amount will be set at $1,209,750, for a single-family home purchase.
• This policy change also means that the threshold for jumbo loans has gone up. In the San Francisco Bay Area, any mortgage for an amount higher than $1,209,750 is considered a jumbo loan.
• Local home buyers now have access to higher loan amounts without the stricter requirements typically associated with jumbo loans. This improves the chance of finding and affording a home.
• Conforming loans adhere to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, making them easier to obtain.
• In contrast, jumbo loans often require borrowers to have higher down payments, better credit scores, and more significant financial reserves to offset the risk.
• In Contra Costa County, the median home price is currently well below the conforming loan limit. This gives home buyers more flexibility and purchasing power.

Want to Explore Your Mortgage Options?

As a home buyer, you have a lot of options when it comes to your mortgage financing.

The jumbo-versus-conforming distinction only scratches the surface. You can also choose the interest rate structure, the term length, and other important details.

That’s why it’s so important to speak to a knowledgeable mortgage professional who can help you explore your options.