Maine FHA Loan Limits by County in 2026
2026 Maine FHA loan limits — $524,225 in most counties, $546,250 in York County, plus why FHA doesn't always beat conventional.
Two limits apply in Maine in 2026
$524,225 is the FHA floor applied to 15 of Maine's 16 counties (Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington). York County is the only Maine county with a higher limit — approximately $546,250 — because of its inclusion in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton MSA for HUD high-cost designation.
Why FHA doesn't always beat conventional in Maine
FHA charges annual MIP that stays for the life of the loan on most 30-year files. Conventional PMI drops off at 78% LTV automatically. Over 5-10 year holds, conventional usually saves money once you've built a bit of equity. FHA wins on 580-640 credit profiles and high-gift-fund scenarios; conventional wins when credit is 680+ and equity builds quickly.
Where FHA still shines
Credit-rebuild files in the 580-640 range where conventional pricing gets punitive. Large-gift-fund scenarios where all down payment is coming from family (FHA allows 100% gift). Buyers taking on 95-96.5% LTV and planning to refinance to conventional in 3-5 years once equity builds. House-hackers buying 2-4 unit owner-occupied with FHA's 3.5% down.
2026 FHA MI schedule
Upfront MIP: 1.75% of the loan, financed into the loan. Annual MIP on 30-year loans over 95% LTV: 0.55%. Annual MIP drops off at 11 years if you put 10%+ down; stays for the life of the loan if under 10% down. All figures subject to HUD revision.
The clean comparison we always run
On every Maine first-time-buyer file, we quote FHA, MaineHousing First Home (often underneath FHA/VA/USDA anyway), and conventional with PMI. The winner on monthly cost across a 5-year horizon gets picked — not the program you walked in assuming you'd use.