---
title: What is a jumbo loan?
description: A loan amount above the county loan limit. This financing has more stringent guidelines but grants larger loan amounts to help reach higher price points.
---

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# What is a jumbo loan?

## A non-conforming loan amount greater than the County loan limit.

A jumbo loan is a non-[conforming](https://www.jvmlending.com/glossary/#conformingloan) loan amount greater than the [County loan limit](https://www.jvmlending.com/loan-limits/) (as set by federal lending guidelines). **These larger loan amounts are oftentimes utilized by well-qualified borrowers to reach higher price points, which are common in California's Bay Area**. 

As non-conforming loans, they do not need to abide by [Fannie](https://www.jvmlending.com/glossary/#fanniemae)/[Freddie](https://www.jvmlending.com/glossary/#freddiemac) guidelines; however, they are subject to **more stringent investor requirements** (e.g., higher minimum down payments and credit scores for qualification) and **rigid overlays** (e.g. higher [reserve](https://www.jvmlending.com/glossary/#reserves) requirements).  Jumbo loans also require a **slightly longer closing timeline** (25 days at the time of this writing). [First/second combo loans](https://www.jvmlending.com/glossary/#first-secondcomboloan) are an alternative to jumbo financing.

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