2026 FHA Loan Limits in Alaska
If the cost of living in Alaska is making it hard to save money for a down payment, a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan could help you to buy a home more quickly. Depending on your credit score, you may qualify for an FHA loan with a down payment as low as 3.5% (or 10% if your score is between 500 and 579).
FHA loan limits vary, though, depending on location. In most Alaska counties, you can borrow up to $541,287 for a single-family home. But in pricier areas like Juneau, FHA loans can be as high as $596,850.
Alaska FHA loan limits by county
Alaska single-family FHA loan limits
| County name | One unit | Two units | Three units | Four units | Median sales price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALEUTIANS EAST | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $171,000 |
| ALEUTIANS WEST | $585,350 | $749,350 | $905,800 | $1,125,700 | $496,000 |
| ANCHORAGE MUNIC | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $460,000 |
| BETHEL CENSUS A | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $154,000 |
| BRISTOL BAY BOR | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $344,000 |
| CHUGACH CENSUS | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $229,000 |
| COPPER RIVER CE | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $449,000 |
| DENALI BOROUGH | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $334,000 |
| DILLINGHAM CENS | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $194,000 |
| FAIRBANKS NORTH | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $335,000 |
| HAINES BOROUGH | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $334,000 |
| HOONAH-ANGOON C | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $355,000 |
| JUNEAU CITY AND | $596,850 | $764,050 | $923,600 | $1,147,800 | $519,000 |
| KENAI PENINSULA | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $319,000 |
| KETCHIKAN GATEW | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $442,000 |
| KODIAK ISLAND B | $541,650 | $693,400 | $838,150 | $1,041,650 | $455,000 |
| KUSILVAK CENSUS | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $86,000 |
| LAKE AND PENINS | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $197,000 |
| MATANUSKA-SUSIT | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $460,000 |
| NOME CENSUS ARE | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $467,000 |
| NORTH SLOPE BOR | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $393,000 |
| NORTHWEST ARCTI | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $208,000 |
| PETERSBURG CENS | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $385,000 |
| PRINCE OF WALES | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $283,000 |
| SITKA CITY AND | $586,500 | $750,800 | $907,550 | $1,127,900 | $490,000 |
| SKAGWAY MUNICIP | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $466,000 |
| SOUTHEAST FAIRB | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $413,000 |
| WRANGELL CITY A | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $338,000 |
| YAKUTAT CITY AN | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $219,000 |
| YUKON-KOYUKUK C | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $112,000 |
How are FHA loan limits determined?
Maximum loan sizes are set by the FHA and are based, in part, on median home prices in a region, as well as conforming loan limits for conventional loans and, in some cases, local building costs. The FHA uses a formula outlined by the National Housing Act (NHA) to determine acceptable loan amounts and then revises the loan limits every year, depending on how median home prices and other factors have shifted.
If a county’s home prices are significantly above average compared to other parts of the state, then it may be designated by the FHA as a “high-cost area.” In those regions, borrowers often need bigger loans to achieve homeownership. So the FHA allows them to borrow more overall.
Counties with lower median home prices, by contrast, are referred to by the FHA as “low-cost areas” and therefore have smaller loan caps. U.S. homebuyers living in low-cost areas can borrow up to $541,287 in 2026. The FHA calls this the “floor” for single-family FHA loans.
In addition to a universal “floor” for FHA loans, the FHA also sets an annual “ceiling” for areas of the country with especially high home prices. In those areas, some single-family homebuyers may be allowed to borrow up to $1,249,125 –– unless a property is located in a “special exception area” like Alaska, where the ceiling is set higher because of local construction costs.
How to qualify for an FHA loan in Alaska
If you don’t have much credit history or have a low credit score, you may find an FHA loan to be cheaper and easier to qualify for than a conventional mortgage. The credit score requirements for FHA loans are designed to be less stringent. A homebuyer with a low down payment may qualify for a loan even if their credit score is between 500 and 580.
To get approved for an FHA loan, you’ll need:
- A minimum credit score between 500 to 580: If you can only afford to spend 3.5% of a home’s purchase price on a down payment, you’ll need a minimum credit score of at least 580 or higher. But if you’ve saved at least 10% for your down payment, you may qualify for an FHA loan with a credit score in the 500 to 579 range.
- A minimum 3.5% to 10% down payment: As long as you save 3.5% to 10% of a home’s purchase price, you should be able to cover the home’s down payment (assuming you also have enough cash reserves available for closing costs and other expenses).
- Occupy the home: FHA-insured mortgages can only be used to buy a home that will be your primary residence, so you must live in the home for at least one year.
- Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 43% or less: Lenders want to know you can afford your mortgage, so they will look at your DTI ratio, which measures how much of your income goes toward monthly debt payments. With FHA loans, lenders generally will only approve borrowers with DTIs of no more than 43%.
- Mortgage insurance premiums: You’ll be required to pay two forms of FHA mortgage insurance. You’ll pay an upfront fee of 1.75% of the loan amount, in addition to an annual premium of 0.15% to 0.75% of the loan amount that’s spread out across your monthly mortgage payments.
- Appraisal: As part of the FHA loan process, you will need to get a specific type of appraisal to establish the home’s fair market value and that it meets FHA safety standards.
Buying a multifamily property with an FHA loan
It’s also possible to use an FHA loan to purchase a multi-unit property that you intend to partially rent out or to co-buy a multifamily home with friends or extended relatives. Down payment requirements are the same for FHA loans used to finance multifamily properties, so these loans can be an attractive option for homebuyers pursuing a strategy known as house hacking.
To qualify for an FHA loan for a multifamily home, you’ll need:
- A minimum 500 to 580 credit score
- A minimum 3.5% to 10% down payment
- To live in one of the units
- Enough income or cash reserves to pay your mortgage for at least three months if you’re buying a property with three to four units
You can also use up to 75% of the rental income you expect to receive from a multifamily property to support your application.
| Number of units | Low-cost FHA loan limit |
|---|---|
| Two | $693,050 |
| Three | $837,700 |
| Four | $1,041,125 |
FHA lenders in Alaska
| Lender | LendingTree rating | Minimum FHA credit score | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Expert review from LendingTree.
| 580 | |
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Expert review from LendingTree.
| 580 | |
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Expert review from LendingTree.
| 580 | |
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Expert review from LendingTree.
| 580 | |
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Expert review from LendingTree.
| 580 |
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