Massachusetts Mortgage Guides 2026
This complete Massachusetts mortgage guide covers FHA loan limits by county, MassHousing down payment assistance, USDA rural loans for rural Massachusetts, VA resources for Massachusetts’s veteran community, and a complete closing cost breakdown — all in one place.
Everything You Need for a Massachusetts Home Purchase
Six in-depth guides covering every aspect of getting a mortgage in Massachusetts — from loan program selection to what you’ll pay at closing.
Massachusetts Mortgage Guide
FHA loan limits by county, loan programs, MassHousing assistance, property taxes, and the 2026 Massachusetts housing market overview covering Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and beyond.
Read guide →Massachusetts First-Time Home Buyer Guide
MassHousing’s Mortgage program, Down Payment Assistance options, MIPlus coverage, and income and purchase price limits explained.
Read guide →Massachusetts FHA Loan Requirements
2026 FHA limits for Greater Boston, Cape Cod, the Islands, and all Massachusetts counties — credit score requirements, MIP, and how FHA competes in Massachusetts’s market.
Read guide →Massachusetts VA Loan Requirements
VA loan benefits for Massachusetts veterans — no down payment, no PMI, and military installations including Hanscom Air Force Base, Joint Base Cape Cod, and the Natick Soldier Systems Center.
Read guide →Massachusetts USDA Loans
USDA-eligible rural areas in Massachusetts including Berkshire, Franklin, and Hampshire counties — income limits and eligibility explained.
Read guide →Massachusetts Closing Costs Guide
Massachusetts’s deeds excise tax — $4.56 per $1,000 statewide — attorney-conducted closings, title insurance, and what buyers and sellers typically pay.
Read guide →Key Massachusetts Mortgage Guide Facts
FHA Loan Limits (2026)
- Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth & Suffolk (Greater Boston metro): $962,550
- Dukes & Nantucket (the Islands): $1,249,125
- Barnstable County: $828,000; Bristol County: $787,750; Worcester County: $545,100
- Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden & Hampshire counties: $541,287 (national floor)
- Confirm your county at HUD’s official lookup
Down Payment Assistance
- MassHousing Down Payment Assistance: up to $30,000, 0% interest, deferred payment — no monthly payment, due at sale, refinance, or payoff
- Alternative options: $25,000 at 2% interest, or $25,000 at 3% interest, both amortized over 15 years
- Must be paired with a MassHousing first-mortgage loan; for income-eligible first-time buyers; income limits vary by product, area and household size
- Current terms at masshousing.com
Property Taxes
- Est. effective rate 1.07% (Census ACS 2024: median taxes paid ÷ median home value) — Massachusetts has no state-level property tax
- Assessed and collected entirely by cities and towns
- Senior Circuit Breaker income tax credit available for qualifying homeowners and renters
- Details at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue
Closing Costs
- Deeds excise tax: $4.56 per $1,000 ($2.28 per $500) statewide (DOR); Barnstable County has a lower base rate (M.G.L. c.64D §1)
- An attorney must substantively participate in the closing on behalf of the lender (Mass.gov)
Buying or Refinancing in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts offers substantial MassHousing down payment assistance and a wide range of loan programs, and an attorney must take a substantive part in the closing on behalf of the lender (Mass.gov). Our guides above break down all of it, and every figure links to the official source so you can verify current terms.
- ✓ Check MassHousing Down Payment Assistance eligibility and current terms at masshousing.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
Massachusetts Advisor Network — Coming Soon
We currently connect buyers with licensed mortgage advisors in all states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, except New York and Massachusetts. Massachusetts is on our expansion list. In the meantime, our Massachusetts guides and the official program links above have everything you need to research your purchase.
