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Central Delaware · DelawareMortgage lender in Kent County, DE
Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #2190975, is licensed in Delaware and makes purchase and refinance loans in Kent County: conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo and non-QM. Steve Umansky, NMLS #61764, is our licensed loan officer for Delaware. For 2026 the one-unit conforming loan limit here is $832,750 and the FHA limit is $541,287.
Reviewed by Steve Umansky, Sr. Branch Manager, NMLS #61764,
From Dover to Harrington: what changes locally, what does not, and how to find out in fifteen minutes what you actually qualify for.
Buying in Kent County
Kent County, with its county seat in Dover, takes in Dover, Smyrna, Camden, Milford and Harrington. Kent County files are handled personally by Steve Umansky, Sr. Branch Manager, NMLS #61764, who is licensed in Delaware, from our Southampton, PA office.
- 2026 conforming limit
- $832,750
- 2026 FHA limit
- $541,287 (one-unit, set by HUD)
- Above that
- Jumbo pricing
- Closing handled by
- attorney
- State housing agency
- Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) (not a participating lender)
- Your officer
- Steve Umansky, NMLS #61764
2026 limits for a one-unit property. Kent County is not designated a high-cost area for conforming loans. Sources: FHFA conforming loan limit values and HUD FHA mortgage limits.
The 2026 baseline conforming limit is $832,750 nationally, and that is the figure that applies in Kent County. Loans above it are jumbo, which means tighter reserves and different pricing.
Kent County: Dover and central Delaware
Kent County is the middle of the state: Dover, the state capital and county seat, with Smyrna to the north, Camden and Wyoming just south, and Harrington, Felton and part of Milford below that. West of Route 13 the county is farmland.
Dover Air Force Base makes VA loans a large share of the purchases here, often on a relocation timeline, so we order the Certificate of Eligibility at the start. New subdivisions around Smyrna, Camden and Magnolia mean many purchases are new construction, where the rate lock has to match the builder’s completion date. In the rural west, wells and septic systems are routine and many addresses fall inside the USDA eligibility map. Manufactured homes in leased-land communities are common in Delaware; a home on leased land generally cannot be financed with a standard mortgage, so tell us early.
Kent County by the numbers
- Median home value
- $316,600 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B25077)
- Typical property tax
- About 0.43% of home value a year: median tax bill $1,363 on a median value of $316,600 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B25103)
- Transfer tax
- State 2.5% plus a local 1.5% where it is levied, typically 4% combined, split equally between buyer and seller (Delaware Code, Title 30, Chapter 54)
- Largest communities
- Dover, Smyrna, Milford, Clayton (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B01003)
The county median home value is $316,600. The 2026 one-unit conforming loan limit here is $832,750 and the FHA limit is $541,287.
Census figures are survey estimates for owner-occupied homes, not appraisals or tax quotes. We use the actual tax bill for the property when we quote.
Closing and programs in Delaware
Closings in Delaware are typically handled by an attorney. The closing process, state transfer and recording taxes and first-time buyer programs are covered on the Delaware page. Property taxes are set locally; we take the figure from the tax record for the address.
Questions Kent County buyers ask
Does Stellar Mortgage lend in Kent County, DE?
Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation is licensed in Delaware and lends in all 3 counties, including Kent County. Steve Umansky, NMLS #61764, is our licensed originator for Delaware and works Delaware files from our Southampton, PA office.
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Kent County?
For 2026 the one-unit conforming limit in Kent County is $832,750, the FHFA baseline. Loans above that are jumbo, which brings tighter reserve and credit requirements. FHA limits are set separately by HUD and are usually lower; we check both for the property address before quoting.
Is there down payment assistance for first-time buyers in Kent County?
Delaware's housing agency, Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), runs the state's bond and assistance programs. Stellar is not currently a participating lender for those, and we say so up front. What we offer Kent County first-time buyers: conventional loans with low down payment options for qualifying buyers, FHA loans with a low down payment, VA loans with little or no money down for eligible service members and veterans, and USDA financing with little or no money down where the address qualifies. Sellers can contribute to closing costs, and gift funds from family are allowed. If an agency program is the better fit for you, we will tell you.
How fast can I get pre-approved to buy in Kent County?
Once we have your application, credit, and the documents on our checklist, most buyers have a letter within one to two business days. If you have already found a home in Dover or anywhere else in Kent County and are writing an offer, tell us on the form and we prioritize the file.
What is the 2026 FHA loan limit in Kent County?
For 2026 the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Kent County is $541,287, set by HUD. The conforming loan limit is $832,750. Limits for two- to four-unit properties are higher.
Who pays the transfer tax in Kent County?
Delaware law divides the realty transfer tax equally between seller and buyer. The state rate is 2.5 percent where the county or municipality levies its own 1.5 percent tax, for a typical combined 4 percent. Qualifying first-time buyers may receive a reduction on their share.
Conforming limit shown is the 2026 FHFA figure for Kent County. FHA limits and state agency caps are set by HUD and Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) and change periodically. Verify on the official source. Not a commitment to lend.
Get pre-approved in Kent County
Three quick steps, about a minute. No Social Security number, no pay stubs. Steve calls you back, usually the same business day.
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