Arkansas Mortgage Guides 2026
This complete Arkansas mortgage guide covers FHA loan limits statewide, Arkansas Development Finance Authority first mortgages and down payment assistance, USDA rural loans across most of the state, VA loan guidance for Arkansas veterans, and a full closing cost breakdown — all in one place.
Everything You Need for an Arkansas Home Purchase
Six guides covering loan limits, first-time buyer programs, FHA, VA and USDA requirements, and what closing actually costs in Arkansas.
Arkansas Mortgage Guide
Loan limits, loan programs, ADFA mortgages, property taxes, closing costs and the Arkansas market — the full picture in one guide.
Read guide →Arkansas First-Time Home Buyer Programs
StartSmart and Move-Up, the repayable down payment assistance second mortgage, and the income and purchase price limits that decide which one you qualify for.
Read guide →Arkansas FHA Loan Requirements
One FHA limit covers all 75 Arkansas counties in 2026 — plus credit score and down payment requirements, mortgage insurance premiums, and how FHA compares to conventional here.
Read guide →Arkansas VA Loan Requirements
VA loan benefits for Arkansas veterans — no down payment, no monthly mortgage insurance, the funding fee table, and how entitlement works with a statewide FHA floor.
Read guide →Arkansas USDA Loans
USDA-eligible rural areas across Arkansas, FY2026 income limits by area and household size, and the guarantee fees that replace a down payment.
Read guide →Arkansas Closing Costs
Transfer tax on the deed, statutory recording fees, and title insurance premiums, which are set by the title insurer.
Read guide →Key Arkansas Mortgage Guide Facts
FHA Loan Limits (2026)
- $541,287 one-family limit in all 75 Arkansas counties
- No high-cost counties — Arkansas sits entirely at the 2026 national floor
- Two-family $693,050 · Three-family $837,700 · Four-family $1,041,125
- HUD FHA limit lookup
Down Payment Assistance
- $1,000 to $15,000 in ADFA Down Payment Assistance toward down payment and closing costs
- A repayable second mortgage over a 10-year term at the first mortgage rate — not a grant and not forgivable
- Available only alongside an ADFA StartSmart or Move-Up first mortgage
- ADFA Down Payment Assistance
Property Taxes
- 0.55% estimated effective rate — median taxes paid divided by median home value
- Median real estate taxes paid $1,040 against a median home value of $188,000
- Census ACS 5-Year 2024
Closing Cost Highlights
- Transfer tax $3.30 per $1,000 of consideration above $100 — levied on the deed, not the mortgage
- Recording fees $15 first page plus $5 each additional page under Ark. Code § 21-6-306
- Title insurance premiums are set by the title insurer
- Arkansas DFA transfer tax
Buying or Refinancing in Arkansas?
Arkansas’s estimated effective property tax rate is 0.55%, its transfer tax applies to the deed rather than the loan, and title insurance premiums are set by the title insurer. Knowing which ADFA program you qualify for is where the rest of the money is.
- StartSmart and Move-Up first mortgages through the Arkansas Development Finance Authority
- USDA financing with no down payment across most of rural Arkansas
- VA loans with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance
- Conventional options from 3% down for buyers who do not need FHA
Coming soon · No obligation · Educational first
Arkansas Advisor Network — Coming Soon
We currently connect buyers with licensed mortgage advisors in Florida and Utah. Arkansas is on our expansion list. In the meantime, our Arkansas guides and the official program links above have everything you need to research your purchase.
Join the Arkansas Waitlist