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Northeastern Pennsylvania · PennsylvaniaMortgage lender in Luzerne County, PA
Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #2190975, is licensed in Pennsylvania and makes purchase and refinance loans in Luzerne 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 Wilkes-Barre to Dallas: what changes locally, what does not, and how to find out in fifteen minutes what you actually qualify for.
Buying in Luzerne County
Luzerne County, with its county seat in Wilkes-Barre, takes in Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Kingston, Pittston and Dallas. Stellar lends across all of Pennsylvania, and Luzerne 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. Luzerne 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 Luzerne County. Loans above it are jumbo, which means tighter reserves and different pricing.
Luzerne County: the Wyoming Valley and Hazleton
Luzerne County centers on the Wyoming Valley, where Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Forty Fort, Plains, Pittston and Nanticoke line both banks of the Susquehanna. Hazleton anchors the southern end of the county, and Mountain Top, Dallas and the Back Mountain are the newer suburban areas on higher ground.
Home prices here are moderate by Pennsylvania standards, which is why FHA loans and PHFA assistance fit so many Luzerne first-time buyers. Two things deserve an early look. First, the river: parts of the valley sit behind a levee system and some neighborhoods are in a mapped flood zone, so we pull the flood determination at the start and price any required flood insurance into the payment. Second, the age of the housing: older single homes and side-by-side doubles are common, and an FHA or VA appraiser may call for repairs before closing. If you are buying a double to live in one side, owner-occupant financing applies.
Luzerne County by the numbers
- Median home value
- $174,100 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B25077)
- Typical property tax
- About 1.45% of home value a year: median tax bill $2,530 on a median value of $174,100 (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
- Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Kingston, Mountain Top (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B01003)
The county median home value is $174,100. 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 Luzerne County buyers ask
Does Stellar Mortgage lend in Luzerne County, PA?
Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation is licensed in Pennsylvania and lends in all 67 counties, including Luzerne 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 Luzerne County?
For 2026 the one-unit conforming limit in Luzerne 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 Luzerne 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 Luzerne 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 Luzerne 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 Wilkes-Barre or anywhere else in Luzerne County and are writing an offer, tell us on the form and we prioritize the file.
What is the 2026 FHA loan limit in Luzerne County?
For 2026 the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Luzerne 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 Luzerne 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 Luzerne 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 Luzerne 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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