Delaware Mortgage Guides 2026
This complete Delaware mortgage guide covers FHA loan limits for all three counties, DSHA down payment and closing cost assistance, USDA rural loans for Kent and Sussex, VA resources for Delaware’s veteran community, and a full closing cost breakdown — all in one place.
Everything You Need for a Delaware Home Purchase
Six in-depth guides covering every aspect of getting a mortgage in Delaware — from loan program selection to what you’ll pay at closing.
Delaware Mortgage Guide
FHA loan limits by county, loan programs, DSHA assistance, property taxes, and the 2026 Delaware housing market.
Read guide →Delaware First-Time Home Buyer Guide
DSHA’s Welcome Home and Open Door programs, plus the Smart Start, First State, Keys4You, Take5 and Diamond in the Rough assistance loans.
Read guide →Delaware FHA Loan Requirements
2026 FHA limits for New Castle, Kent and Sussex, credit score minimums, mortgage insurance, and the FHA 203(k) option.
Read guide →Delaware VA Loan Requirements
VA loan benefits for Delaware veterans — no down payment, no PMI, funding fee rates and who is exempt.
Read guide →Delaware USDA Loans
USDA-eligible rural areas in Delaware, income limits by county and household size, and zero-down financing.
Read guide →Delaware Closing Costs Guide
Realty transfer tax, recorder fees by county, title insurance, and how to reduce what you pay at the closing table.
Read guide →Key Delaware Mortgage Guide Facts
FHA Loan Limits (2026)
- New Castle County (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro): $630,200
- Kent County (Dover metro): $541,287 — the 2026 national floor
- Sussex County (Seaford metro): $541,287 — the 2026 national floor
- Conforming limit is $832,750 in all three counties. Verify any county with HUD’s official lookup
Down Payment Assistance
- First State Home Loan: zero-interest second mortgage equal to 3% of the first mortgage amount
- Keys4You 4% · Take5 5% · Diamond in the Rough 5% (requires FHA 203(k) limited)
- No monthly payment — deferred until refinance, sale, transfer of title, or the home is no longer your primary residence
- Minimum credit score 620; housing counseling required at 659 or below. Current terms at destatehousing.com
Property Taxes
- Est. effective rate about 0.50% statewide (Est.) — among the lowest in the nation
- New Castle County roughly 0.71% (Est.)
- Kent County roughly 0.43% (Est.); Sussex County roughly 0.32% (Est.)
- Assessed and collected by the counties, not the State. Derived from Census ACS 2024 5-year data
Closing Cost Highlights
- Realty transfer tax: 3% state, or 2.5% state plus up to 1.5% local — 4% combined in practice in most Delaware jurisdictions
- Apportioned equally between grantor and grantee unless the contract says otherwise
- First-time buyers: 0.5% reduction on the buyer’s half, applied to the lesser of price or $400,000
- Recorder fees differ by county — New Castle $13/page, Kent $36 plus $10/page, Sussex $30 plus $1 plus $9/page
Buying or Refinancing in Delaware?
Delaware pairs some of the lowest effective property tax rates in the country with one of the higher realty transfer taxes, and DSHA layers several deferred down payment assistance loans on top. Our guides above break down all of it, and every figure links to the official source so you can verify current terms.
- ✓ Check Welcome Home and Open Door eligibility and current limits at destatehousing.com
- ✓ Confirm your county’s 2026 FHA limit with HUD’s lookup tool
- ✓ Compare FHA vs. conventional using our loan program guides
- ✓ Estimate your total cash to close with our closing cost guide
Coming soon · No obligation · Educational first
Delaware Advisor Network — Coming Soon
We currently connect buyers with licensed mortgage advisors in Florida and Utah. Delaware is on our expansion list. In the meantime, our Delaware guides and the official program links above have everything you need to research your purchase.
Join the Delaware Waitlist