Delaware Home Loans
Delaware Mortgage Loans for All Three Counties
Delaware is small on the map but varied on the ground, from Wilmington rowhomes to Kent County farmland and Sussex County beach cottages. The Smith Mortgage Group, Powered by FCM, writes Delaware home loans for every one of those places, and Sterling Smith stays your direct contact the whole way.
Get Your Delaware Rate Quote
No hard credit pull. No obligation. A response within two business hours.
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Local Expertise, Nationwide Strength
A Delaware Lender Who Knows the Difference Between the Counties
Delaware's three counties feel like three different markets. New Castle County in the north is suburban and urban, tied closely to Wilmington's banking and corporate employers and to Philadelphia's orbit. Kent County in the middle blends state government, Dover Air Force Base and farmland with fast-growing subdivisions. Sussex County to the south mixes agriculture with one of the Mid-Atlantic's most popular beach regions. We lend across all three, and we start by understanding the property type and how you plan to use it.
Sterling Smith works with Delaware clients directly, typically replying within two business hours. A Delaware pre-qualification skips the hard credit pull, a pre-approval answer often lands within 24 hours, and closing usually follows 30 to 45 days after application. If you would like to understand the steps before you begin, review our mortgage process timeline, then get pre-qualified to see what price range makes sense for your budget and your preferred part of the state. Refinancing homeowners can reach out the same way.
Start your Delaware pre-approval →Where We Lend
Delaware metro areas we serve
- Dover Home loans for airmen, state employees and families in the capital area, including Camden and Milford, with VA, FHA and USDA options matched to Kent County properties. Dover mortgages →
- Newark Financing near the University of Delaware for faculty, staff, families and investors, with coverage in Bear, Glasgow and Pike Creek close to the Maryland and Pennsylvania lines. Newark mortgages →
- Rehoboth Beach Second-home, primary-residence and investment financing at the Delaware beaches, covering Lewes, Dewey Beach and Milton, with practical guidance on flood zones, coastal insurance and seasonal rentals. Rehoboth Beach mortgages →
- Smyrna-Clayton Mortgages for buyers in new subdivisions along the Route 1 corridor between Wilmington and Dover, including Clayton and Cheswold, with USDA and construction loan options in eligible areas. Smyrna-Clayton mortgages →
- Wilmington Purchase and refinance lending across New Castle County, from city rowhomes and historic districts to suburban Hockessin, Bear and Middletown, with options for banking and corporate professionals. Wilmington mortgages →
Buying in Delaware
Delaware Buying Considerations
Delaware has no statewide sales tax and relatively modest property taxes in many areas, which is part of why it draws relocating buyers and retirees from neighboring states. That inflow, along with steady growth in Kent and Sussex counties, means a lot of new construction, homeowners associations and community amenities. Builder contracts and HOA dues deserve careful review, since they affect your qualifying payment. Our affordability calculator can help you set a comfortable budget before you visit model homes.
Low-lying and coastal Delaware homes, particularly in Sussex County and on the Delaware Bay, can sit in flood zones that trigger mandatory coverage on a mortgage, and storm exposure can push homeowners premiums higher. Central and southern Delaware is largely rural, with wells, septic and working farmland close by, and parts of it may satisfy USDA location rules. The state also has a notable military presence at Dover Air Force Base. First-time Delaware buyers may be able to tap down payment help offered by the state or a local program, and we'll sort out which ones fit your household.
Loan Programs
Programs That Fit Delaware
USDA loans in Kent and Sussex counties
Much of Kent and Sussex counties is rural or semi-rural, so many addresses there may pass USDA's property-location test. Qualifying Delaware buyers can usually finance the whole price with USDA home loans, provided household income stays under the caps and program rules are met. We check eligibility for specific addresses.
VA loans for the Dover AFB community
Dover Air Force Base airmen, reservists and veterans frequently rely on VA loans in Delaware, which generally skip the down payment and carry no monthly mortgage insurance. VA loans carry no FCM lender fees, with eligibility set by service record and underwriting.
Second-home loans at the beaches
Buyers from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and beyond often purchase second homes at the Delaware beaches. A beach place in Rehoboth or Lewes can go through conventional second-home financing, as long as it's for your own use and you satisfy reserve and occupancy rules. Investment properties have different requirements.
Answers
Delaware mortgage FAQs
Do you lend in all three Delaware counties?
Yes. We are licensed to originate throughout Delaware, including New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. Whether you are buying a Wilmington condo, a new build near Smyrna or a beach cottage near Lewes, Sterling Smith handles your loan directly, with documents signed electronically and closing coordinated through a local settlement company.
Are USDA loans really available in Delaware?
Many areas outside the larger towns, especially in Kent and Sussex counties, may meet USDA location rules. The household has to stay under the income caps and live in the Delaware home full-time. USDA maps get revised, so we recheck every Kent or Sussex County address on your list before an offer goes in.
What should I know about buying new construction in Delaware?
New construction is common in Kent and Sussex. Review the builder's contract carefully, ask about HOA dues and community fees, and understand how incentives tied to a preferred lender actually compare. A rate-lock strategy matters when completion dates can shift. We are happy to review the financing pieces with you.
How do flood zones affect Delaware beach and bay properties?
Financing a Delaware home inside a special flood hazard area generally triggers a flood insurance requirement, with premiums driven by elevation and how the house is built. Request an elevation certificate early. Factoring insurance into your payment upfront prevents surprises when you are close to closing.
Can I refinance my Delaware home with The Smith Mortgage Group?
Yes. Delaware homeowners who qualify can choose rate-and-term or cash-out refinancing, an FHA streamline or a VA IRRRL. For a Delaware owner, whether refinancing pays off comes down to today's rate, the closing costs and how many more years you'll stay. Run your own scenario in the refinance calculator to see roughly when savings would outweigh costs.
Keep Exploring
Related resources
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Ready to buy or refinance in Delaware?
Get a free, no-obligation consultation with Sterling Smith: clear answers, a side-by-side look at the programs you qualify for, and a plan built around your budget.