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Northwestern Pennsylvania · PennsylvaniaMortgage lender in Erie County, PA
Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #2190975, is licensed in Pennsylvania and makes purchase and refinance loans in Erie 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 Erie to Corry: what changes locally, what does not, and how to find out in fifteen minutes what you actually qualify for.
Buying in Erie County
Erie County, with its county seat in Erie, takes in Erie, Millcreek, Edinboro, North East and Corry. Stellar lends across all of Pennsylvania, and Erie 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. Erie 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 Erie County. Loans above it are jumbo, which means tighter reserves and different pricing.
Erie County: the city, the lake and the suburbs
Erie County is Pennsylvania’s only county on Lake Erie. The City of Erie is the county seat; Millcreek, Harborcreek, Fairview and Summit townships are its suburbs; North East is grape country to the east; Edinboro is a university and lake town to the south; and Corry sits in the southeastern corner.
In the city, older single homes and two-unit houses are moderately priced, which makes FHA loans and PHFA assistance a common fit; buying a two-unit to live in follows owner-occupant rules. The suburbs are newer and higher priced. Along the lakefront, properties on the bluff bring questions about setbacks and erosion that an appraiser and insurer will look at. In the southern and eastern townships, wells and septic systems are common and some addresses fall inside the USDA eligibility map.
Erie County by the numbers
- Median home value
- $177,000 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B25077)
- Typical property tax
- About 1.60% of home value a year: median tax bill $2,830 on a median value of $177,000 (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
- Erie, Millcreek Township, Harborcreek Township, Fairview Township (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B01003)
The county median home value is $177,000. 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 Erie County buyers ask
Does Stellar Mortgage lend in Erie County, PA?
Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation is licensed in Pennsylvania and lends in all 67 counties, including Erie 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 Erie County?
For 2026 the one-unit conforming limit in Erie 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 Erie 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 Erie 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 Erie 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 Erie or anywhere else in Erie County and are writing an offer, tell us on the form and we prioritize the file.
What is the 2026 FHA loan limit in Erie County?
For 2026 the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Erie 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 Erie 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 Erie 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 Erie 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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