New Hampshire Mortgage Guide 2026
Everything a New Hampshire buyer needs in one place: 2026 FHA and conforming loan limits across all 10 counties, New Hampshire Housing loans and down payment assistance, how New Hampshire property taxes compare, and a closing cost breakdown built on the state’s transfer tax and statutory recording fees.
New Hampshire Loan Limits by County (2026)
New Hampshire’s loan limits split into three tiers. The 2026 conforming loan limit is $832,750 in eight of the state’s ten counties and $962,550 in Rockingham and Strafford Counties, which are part of the Boston metro area. FHA varies more: six counties sit at the national floor of $541,287, while Carroll, Hillsborough, Rockingham and Strafford are set higher.
| County | Conforming Limit | FHA Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockingham, Strafford | $962,550 | $962,550 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area |
| Hillsborough | $832,750 | $589,950 | Manchester-Nashua metro area |
| Carroll | $832,750 | $546,250 | Non-metro county above the FHA floor |
| Belknap, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Merrimack, Sullivan | $832,750 | $541,287 | National FHA floor |
FHA limits come from HUD and conforming limits come from FHFA — they are set by different agencies and are different numbers. Verify any county at the HUD FHA Mortgage Limits lookup. Figures above are CY2026, retrieved September 2026.
Comparing New Hampshire Loan Programs
Most New Hampshire buyers choose between five routes. The credit scores below are practical lender thresholds rather than published program minimums — the number you meet in practice is usually an overlay applied by the lender.
| Program | Min Down | Min Credit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHA | 3.5% | 580 | Buyers with thinner credit or limited savings |
| VA | 0% | 580–620 (lender overlay) | Veterans, active duty, and eligible spouses |
| USDA | 0% | 640 (lender overlay) | Eligible rural New Hampshire addresses within income limits |
| Conventional | 3%–20% | 620 | Stronger credit, or avoiding FHA’s upfront and annual premiums |
| NH Housing Home First | Follows the FHA, VA, USDA or conventional loan used | Lender overlay | First-time buyers, buyers in targeted communities, and qualified veterans |
HUD allows maximum FHA financing at a credit score of 580 or above and limits borrowers between 500 and 579 to 90% loan-to-value (HUD). VA states that it does not require a minimum credit score (VA), and USDA says its guaranteed program has no credit score requirement (USDA Rural Development). Treat every score in this table as a lender overlay, not a rule.
New Hampshire Housing (NHHFA)
The New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, which operates as New Hampshire Housing, is the state’s housing finance agency. Its mortgages are made through approved lenders and include 30-year fixed rates, low or no down payment options, reduced mortgage insurance options and down payment assistance. In general, its programs serve incomes up to $184,500, though specific programs set their own limits.
| Program | Who It Is For | Key Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Home First / First Plus | First-time buyers, buyers in targeted communities, qualified veterans | Rate-advantaged bond financing; town income and purchase price limits |
| Home Preferred | Conventional low down payment borrowers | 3% down (5% for 2–4 units); income up to $184,500 |
| Preferred | Borrowers under 80% of area median income | 3% down conventional with a reduced mortgage insurance option |
| Down payment assistance | Buyers using an NH Housing first mortgage | Up to $15,000 at 0%, no monthly payments |
Down payment and closing cost assistance
NH Housing’s cash assistance of up to $15,000 can go toward the down payment and closing costs. It is secured by a second mortgage at 0% interest with no periodic payments and a 30-year term, and it becomes due in full if you sell, refinance, file for bankruptcy, stop living in the home as your primary residence, or at the end of 30 years. Homebuyer education is required.
Home First sets income and purchase price limits by community. In most communities the income limit is $131,800 for 1–2 person households and $151,500 for 3 or more; in targeted communities it is $158,100 and $184,500. Check your town on the NH Housing Home First program limits before assuming you qualify.
New Hampshire Property Taxes
Dividing the state median annual real estate tax bill of $6,667 by the state median owner-occupied home value of $402,500 gives an estimated effective rate of 1.66%. Sources: Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year table B25103 and table B25077.
That 1.66% is an estimated effective rate derived from two separate medians. It is not the median of individual households’ effective rates, and no single New Hampshire household necessarily pays it. Your actual bill depends on your property’s assessed value and the tax rate of the town where it sits.
| Home Value | Est. Annual Tax | Monthly Escrow |
|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $4,980 (Est.) | $415 |
| $400,000 | $6,640 (Est.) | $553 |
| $500,000 | $8,300 (Est.) | $692 |
| $600,000 | $9,960 (Est.) | $830 |
Treat the table above as a planning estimate built from the statewide 1.66% figure, and ask your lender for the actual parcel figure before you commit.
New Hampshire Closing Costs
Two sets of New Hampshire closing charges are fixed in state law: the real estate transfer tax, which buyer and seller each pay, and the register of deeds’ recording fees. Everything else on the closing statement — lender, appraisal, title and settlement charges — is set by the provider.
| Fee | Amount | Set By |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate transfer tax | $0.75 per $100 of price, charged to the buyer and again to the seller | RSA 78-B:1 and 78-B:4 |
| Recording a document | $10 first page, $4 each additional page | RSA 478:17-g |
| Surcharge on each deed and mortgage recorded | $25 | RSA 478:17-g |
| Lender, appraisal, title and settlement fees | Set by the provider | Compare Loan Estimates |
Under RSA 78-B:4 the transfer tax rate in RSA 78-B:1 applies to both the purchaser and the seller, so the combined tax on a sale is $1.50 per $100. Recording fees and the surcharge are set statewide by RSA 478:17-g.
New Hampshire Housing Markets
Where you buy in New Hampshire changes your loan limits and which programs reach you. The table below is a qualitative orientation, not a price guide.
| Area | Market Notes |
|---|---|
| Rockingham and Strafford Counties | Part of the Boston metro area, with the state’s highest FHA and conforming limits. Portsmouth, Newmarket, Dover, Rochester and Somersworth are NH Housing targeted communities. |
| Hillsborough County | The Manchester-Nashua metro area, with an FHA limit above the national floor. Manchester and Goffstown are NH Housing targeted communities. |
| Merrimack County | The Concord metro area, with a USDA income limit above the state base. Concord and Pittsfield are targeted communities. |
| Carroll County | A non-metro county whose FHA limit sits above the national floor. |
| Grafton and Sullivan Counties | Part of the Lebanon-Claremont metro area. Littleton and Claremont are targeted communities. |
| Belknap, Cheshire and Coos Counties | At the FHA floor. Laconia, Berlin, Lancaster and Whitefield are targeted communities. |
