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Hampton Roads · VirginiaMortgage lender in Norfolk, VA
Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #2190975, is licensed in Virginia and makes purchase and refinance loans in Norfolk: conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo and non-QM. Steve Umansky, NMLS #61764, is our licensed loan officer for Virginia. For 2026 the one-unit conforming loan limit here is $832,750 and the FHA limit is $757,850.
Reviewed by Steve Umansky, Sr. Branch Manager, NMLS #61764,
From Ghent to Naval Station area: what changes locally, what does not, and how to find out in fifteen minutes what you actually qualify for.
Buying in Norfolk
Norfolk takes in Ghent, Ocean View, Larchmont, Downtown and Naval Station area. Norfolk files are handled personally by Steve Umansky, Sr. Branch Manager, NMLS #61764, who is licensed in Virginia, from our Southampton, PA office.
- 2026 conforming limit
- $832,750
- 2026 FHA limit
- $757,850 (one-unit, set by HUD)
- Above that
- Jumbo pricing
- Closing handled by
- settlement agent
- State housing agency
- Virginia Housing (not a participating lender)
- Your officer
- Steve Umansky, NMLS #61764
2026 limits for a one-unit property. Norfolk 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 Norfolk. Loans above it are jumbo, which means tighter reserves and different pricing.
Norfolk: a Navy city on the water
Norfolk is an independent city and home to Naval Station Norfolk. Ghent, Larchmont and Colonial Place are older neighborhoods near downtown and the university; Ocean View and East Beach face the Chesapeake Bay; and downtown has condominiums in both new and converted buildings.
VA loans are a large part of this market, and many buyers are on military orders with a fixed report date, so we order the Certificate of Eligibility and start the appraisal early. Tidal flooding is a regular fact of life in parts of the city, and many properties sit in a mapped flood zone, so the flood determination and a real insurance quote come first. Much of the housing is older, which is where VA and FHA appraisals are most likely to call for repairs.
Norfolk by the numbers
- Median home value
- $289,900 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B25077)
- Typical property tax
- About 1.00% of home value a year: median tax bill $2,890 on a median value of $289,900 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B25103)
- Transfer tax
- Recordation tax of 25 cents per $100 and a grantor tax of 50 cents per $500; localities may add their own (Va. Code § 58.1-801)
The county median home value is $289,900. The 2026 one-unit conforming loan limit here is $832,750 and the FHA limit is $757,850.
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 Virginia
Closings in Virginia are typically handled by a settlement agent. The closing process, state transfer and recording taxes and first-time buyer programs are covered on the Virginia page. Property taxes are set locally; we take the figure from the tax record for the address.
Questions Norfolk buyers ask
Does Stellar Mortgage lend in Norfolk, VA?
Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation is licensed in Virginia and lends throughout Virginia, including the City of Norfolk. Steve Umansky, NMLS #61764, is our licensed originator for Virginia and works Virginia files from our Southampton, PA office.
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Norfolk?
For 2026 the one-unit conforming limit in Norfolk 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 Norfolk?
Virginia's housing agency, Virginia Housing, 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 Norfolk 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 Norfolk?
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 Ghent or anywhere else in Norfolk and are writing an offer, tell us on the form and we prioritize the file.
What is the 2026 FHA loan limit in Norfolk?
For 2026 the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Norfolk is $757,850, 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 Norfolk?
Virginia’s recordation tax, 25 cents per $100 of the price or value, is generally the buyer’s. The grantor tax, 50 cents per $500, is the seller’s by statute unless the contract shifts it. Localities may add their own recordation tax.
Conforming limit shown is the 2026 FHFA figure for Norfolk. FHA limits and state agency caps are set by HUD and Virginia Housing and change periodically. Verify on the official source. Not a commitment to lend.
Get pre-approved in Norfolk
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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“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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