La Plata County
Buying a home in Durango
Providers and rules checked against their own pages in November 2026. FHFA’s county figures come out once a year; we check for new ones every week.
Durango is the region’s largest town and La Plata County’s seat. City water and sewer serve most homes in town; outside it, wells, septic and acreage are common.
- La Plata County’s FHA limit is higher than its neighbors’, which matters on higher-priced homes.
- Homes here are inside USDA’s eligible area; we check the exact address.
- Conforming limit, 2026$832,750One-unit homes in La Plata County. Above it, a loan is jumbo.Source: FHFA: 2026 conforming loan limits
- FHA limit, 2026$747,500The largest FHA loan on a one-unit home in La Plata County.Source: HUD: 2026 FHA limits by county
- Home values, past yearUp 4.5%FHFA’s index for La Plata County, 2024 to 2025.Source: FHFA, via FRED
- USDA areaEligibleEligible on USDA’s map, in and around town. USDA decides on a full application.Source: USDA: property eligibility
Home values in La Plata County
Checked weekly from public data; last checked November 8, 2026. County trends, not the value of any one home.
- Past yearup 4.5%2024 to 2025
- Past five yearsup 59.3%2020 to 2025
- Past ten yearsup 89.9%2015 to 2025
Show the figures
| Year | Index |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 100.0 |
| 2001 | 106.5 |
| 2002 | 114.0 |
| 2003 | 121.7 |
| 2004 | 134.3 |
| 2005 | 151.8 |
| 2006 | 169.0 |
| 2007 | 178.3 |
| 2008 | 181.2 |
| 2009 | 171.3 |
| 2010 | 159.1 |
| 2011 | 153.8 |
| 2012 | 149.9 |
| 2013 | 156.0 |
| 2014 | 165.1 |
| 2015 | 173.6 |
| 2016 | 180.7 |
| 2017 | 189.7 |
| 2018 | 197.1 |
| 2019 | 206.0 |
| 2020 | 206.9 |
| 2021 | 231.2 |
| 2022 | 279.3 |
| 2023 | 301.3 |
| 2024 | 315.5 |
| 2025 | 329.6 |
Sources: FHFA house price index for La Plata County, via FRED. Rates this week are on our rates page.
Loans and limits in La Plata County
Limits are for one-unit homes and change every January.
6 itemsConforming loan limit
$832,750 for 2026. A conventional loan above it is a jumbo loan.
Conforming loan limit
$832,750 for 2026. A conventional loan above it is a jumbo loan.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy conventional loans up to the county's limit. La Plata County's 2026 one-unit limit is $832,750; loans for two- to four-unit homes have higher limits. Above the limit, a loan is jumbo, with its own rules and usually more down.
VA has no loan limit for buyers with full entitlement. FHFA sets the next year's limits each November.
- One unit
- $832,750
- Year
- 2026
FHA loan limit
$747,500 for 2026 on a one-unit home.
FHA loan limit
$747,500 for 2026 on a one-unit home.
HUD sets FHA's limit by county. La Plata County's 2026 one-unit limit is $747,500. The limit is on the base loan before FHA's upfront premium is added.
- One unit
- $747,500
- Year
- 2026
Source: HUD: 2026 FHA limits by county
USDA eligible area
Eligible on USDA’s map, in and around town. We check the exact address and USDA’s household income limit.
USDA eligible area
Eligible on USDA’s map, in and around town. We check the exact address and USDA’s household income limit.
The towns on these pages sit inside USDA's eligible areas, and we check the exact address on USDA's map. USDA then caps household income by county and household size. It counts qualifying income of the adults in the household, not only the borrowers, with some exclusions and adjustments; the income used to qualify for the payment is a separate figure. We check both for you before you make an offer.
Source: USDA: property eligibility
- GuideUSDA loan dashboardEvery USDA rule on one page: no down payment, the fees, income limits, wells and septic.
- Loan guideDown payment assistanceUsually a loan secured by a second lien, sometimes a grant. We compare options with and without it.
- Loan guideJumbo loansFor loans above $832,750 in La Plata County.
Homes in and around Durango
Homes in town, subdivisions on the edges, and homes on acreage north toward Hermosa, west toward Hesperus and east toward Florida Mesa. Condos and townhomes are more common here than elsewhere in the region.
6 itemsWells and water
USDA and many lenders require a recent water test; we tell you whether yours does.
Wells and water
USDA and many lenders require a recent water test; we tell you whether yours does.
A well needs a permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources, and the permit says how the water may be used. Ask the seller for the permit, the well log and any pump or water test records.
Shared wells need a recorded agreement. After closing, file the change of owner form with the Division of Water Resources so the well's record is in your name.
Source: Colorado Division of Water Resources: change of owner eForm
Flood and wildfire
Check the flood map and the wildfire risk for the address before you set your insurance budget.
Flood and wildfire
Check the flood map and the wildfire risk for the address before you set your insurance budget.
A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood. If the home is in a high-risk flood zone and the loan is federally backed, flood insurance is required; anywhere near a river or drainage it is worth pricing. A new National Flood Insurance Program policy usually has a 30-day wait, with exceptions, such as a policy bought when a loan requires it; private flood policies set their own terms. A lender can require flood insurance outside a high-risk zone too, and being outside one does not mean no risk.
Wildfire risk affects what insurance costs and which companies will write it. Price insurance early, before your inspection deadline.
Sources: FEMA Flood Map Service Center; USDA Forest Service: Wildfire Risk to Communities
- LessonBuying a home on acreageCan I get a home loan on a few acres?
- LessonWells, septic and waterWhat do lenders need on a home with a well or septic?
- LessonManufactured homesCan I finance a manufactured home?
- LessonInspections, and what to do with themWhich inspections do I need, and what do I do with them?
Who to call for utilities
Set these up before closing so the lights, water and heat are on the day you move in. Confirm each one for your address.
7 items- lpea.coopLa Plata Electric AssociationElectric co-op for La Plata and Archuleta counties
- atmosenergy.comAtmos EnergyAtmos Energy serves Durango. Many homes outside town use propane; ask the seller who fills the tank and whether it is owned or leased.
- durangoco.govCity of Durango: water and sewerInside city limits; billing and start of service
- durangoco.govCity of Durango: trash and recyclingResidential collection and curbside recycling in the city
Septic
Standard outside town sewer. La Plata County asks for an inspection and a permit before closing; we plan it into your dates.
Septic
Standard outside town sewer. La Plata County asks for an inspection and a permit before closing; we plan it into your dates.
Outside town sewer, most homes here have a septic system. It is a private utility and a normal part of a home here. In La Plata County a sale adds one step: a certified inspector looks at the system, and the report goes to La Plata County Public Health for a Continued Use Permit at least two weeks before closing (in place since March 2, 2026). Newer systems and family or trust transfers are exempt, and repairs can finish after closing under an agreement.
We plan the inspection into your contract dates, the same as the appraisal.
Source: La Plata County Public Health: Continued Use Permit guide
- clearnetworx.comClearnetworxFiber internet; check availability for your address
- broadbandmap.fcc.govInternet at your addressThe FCC’s map lists every provider that reports service at an address. Check it before you buy, especially outside town.
Durango and La Plata County
The offices you will deal with as an owner: taxes, permits, schools.
7 items- durangoco.govCity of DurangoServices, permits and contacts.
- lpcgov.orgLa Plata CountyAssessor, treasurer, clerk and recorder, planning and building.
- lpcgov.orgLa Plata County Public Health: septicSeptic permits and records.
- durangoco.govCity of Durango: relocating to DurangoThe city’s guide for people moving to Durango.
- durangoco.govCity of Durango: building permitsPermits for building and remodeling.
- durangoco.govCity of Durango: planning and zoningWhat can be built where.
- cde.state.co.usDurango School District 9-R (Colorado Department of Education)The district’s profile and contacts.
After the October 2026 flooding
La Plata County is one of the counties in Colorado’s October 22, 2026 flood disaster emergency.
2 itemsRun your own numbers
Example numbers to start with; your Mortgage Plan uses yours.
4 items- CalculatorMortgage paymentYour full payment for each loan type, and where any payment goes.
- CalculatorAffordabilityA price range from your income and debts, against each loan type's guideline.
- CalculatorCash to closeDown payment, closing costs and prepaids, less credits.
- CalculatorDown payment by loan typeThe down payment, loan and cash to close on each loan type.