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Central Pennsylvania · PennsylvaniaMortgage lender in Columbia County, PA
Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #2190975, is licensed in Pennsylvania and makes purchase and refinance loans in Columbia County: conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo and non-QM. Files are handled from our Southampton, PA office by a licensed loan officer you can reach directly. 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 Bloomsburg to Catawissa: what changes locally, what does not, and how to find out in fifteen minutes what you actually qualify for.
Buying in Columbia County
Columbia County, with its county seat in Bloomsburg, takes in Bloomsburg, Berwick and Catawissa. Stellar lends across all of Pennsylvania, and Columbia County files are handled from our Southampton, PA office by a licensed officer you can reach directly.
- 2026 conforming limit
- $832,750
- 2026 FHA limit
- $541,287 (one-unit, set by HUD)
- Above that
- Jumbo pricing
- Closing handled by
- title company
- State housing agency
- PHFA (participating lender)
- Your office
- Southampton, PA
2026 limits for a one-unit property. Columbia 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 Columbia County. Loans above it are jumbo, which means tighter reserves and different pricing.
Columbia County: Bloomsburg and Berwick
Columbia County lies along the North Branch of the Susquehanna. Bloomsburg is the county seat and a university town; Berwick is at the eastern end; Catawissa is across the river; and Benton, Millville and Orangeville are in the farm country to the north.
Flooding is the local issue to check first. Parts of Bloomsburg along the river and Fishing Creek, and parts of Catawissa and Berwick, are in a mapped flood zone, where a lender must require flood insurance, so we order the flood determination before you commit. Near the university, tell us whether a house is for you or will be rented to students, because occupancy changes the loan. North of town, wells, septic systems and addresses inside the USDA eligibility map are common.
Columbia County by the numbers
- Median home value
- $206,200 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B25077)
- Typical property tax
- About 1.11% of home value a year: median tax bill $2,286 on a median value of $206,200 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B25103)
- Transfer tax
- State realty transfer tax of 1% of the value, plus a local tax that varies by municipality (Pennsylvania Department of Revenue)
- Largest communities
- Bloomsburg, Berwick, Scott Township, Briar Creek Township (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B01003)
The county median home value is $206,200. 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 Pennsylvania
Closings in Pennsylvania are typically handled by a title company. The closing process, state transfer and recording taxes and first-time buyer programs are covered on the Pennsylvania page. Property taxes are set locally; we take the figure from the tax record for the address.
Questions Columbia County buyers ask
Does Stellar Mortgage lend in Columbia County, PA?
Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation is licensed in Pennsylvania and lends in all 67 counties, including Columbia County. Our head office is in Southampton, Bucks County, and every file is handled by a licensed loan officer with a direct line.
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Columbia County?
For 2026 the one-unit conforming limit in Columbia 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 Columbia County?
PHFA, the state housing agency, offers first mortgages paired with down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible Pennsylvania buyers, and Stellar is an approved PHFA lender. Income and purchase price limits are set by county and change periodically, so we confirm the current Columbia County figures on your file rather than quoting them here. Some counties and municipalities run their own programs as well; ask your officer what is funded right now.
How fast can I get pre-approved to buy in Columbia 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 Bloomsburg or anywhere else in Columbia County and are writing an offer, tell us on the form and we prioritize the file.
What is the 2026 FHA loan limit in Columbia County?
For 2026 the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Columbia 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 Columbia County?
The state realty transfer tax is 1 percent of the property’s value, and the municipality and school district usually add a local tax. Buyer and seller are both legally responsible; how it is divided is set in the agreement of sale, and it is often shared.
Conforming limit shown is the 2026 FHFA figure for Columbia County. FHA limits and state agency caps are set by HUD and PHFA and change periodically. Verify on the official source. Not a commitment to lend.
Get pre-approved in Columbia County
Three quick steps, about a minute. No Social Security number, no pay stubs. A licensed officer from our Southampton office calls you back, usually the same business day.
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“You were always professional, responsive, patient, and helpful, and you made what could have been a stressful process feel smooth and easy.”Yelda A., North Wales, PA · verified review on Experience.com
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