Buy a home in Jacksonville with as little as 3.5% down. Here's how FHA loans work in Duval County, how FHA compares to VA in this military town, and how to get pre-approved.
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Jacksonville is Florida's most affordable major metro and one of its largest by land area, spanning historic Riverside and San Marco, the Beaches, and growing suburbs on the Northside and in Mandarin. That affordability makes FHA especially powerful here — the statewide loan limit comfortably covers most Jacksonville homes. Jacksonville is also a major military town, so for many buyers the real question is FHA versus VA.
With the 2026 FHA limit of $541,287 and FHA's 3.5% minimum down, you can finance a Jacksonville home priced up to roughly $560,000 (your loan covers the price minus your down payment). In Jacksonville's relatively affordable market, that covers the large majority of homes for sale. A few Florida counties are set higher, so confirm Duval County's exact figure with HUD.
With NAS Jacksonville, Mayport, and a large veteran population, many Jacksonville buyers qualify for a VA loan — which offers 0% down and no monthly mortgage insurance. If you're eligible, VA usually beats FHA; if you're not, FHA's 3.5% down is the next-best low-barrier option. We help you compare both honestly — see our FHA vs. VA guide. Either way, Jacksonville's affordability means your buying power goes far.
You don't have to cover the down payment alone. FHA allows gift funds, sellers can contribute up to 6% toward closing costs, and Jacksonville buyers can often pair FHA with assistance from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and Duval County's local SHIP-funded programs. Funding and eligibility change frequently, so we'll help you confirm what's currently available — see our FHA down payment assistance guide.
We help buyers throughout Jacksonville and Duval County, including Riverside, San Marco, the Beaches, Mandarin, and the Northside. Wherever you're looking, we'll explain your FHA loan limit, rate, and monthly payment — and get you pre-approved fast.
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