Estimate your monthly mortgage payment in Delaware — principal & interest plus Delaware property tax and homeowner’s insurance.
Buying a home in Delaware: what to know
Delaware pairs a typical home value of $406,074 (Zillow ZHVI, September 2026) with one of the friendliest tax pictures in the country: no state or local sales tax and an effective property tax rate of just 0.54%, among the lowest nationwide. Homeowner’s insurance averages about $1,103 a year (NAIC 2022), comfortably below the national mean. The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) supports first-time buyers through its Welcome Home mortgage, with down payment help available via the First State (3%), Keys4You (4%), and Take5 (5%) assistance options.
Delaware mortgage facts
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| 2026 conforming loan limit (1-unit) | $832,750Delaware uses the standard 2026 baseline of $832,750 for a one-unit home in all three counties; no high-cost counties. |
| Median home price | $406,074 |
| Median effective property tax rate | 0.54% |
| Average homeowner’s insurance | $1,103/year |
Data as of October 2026. Sources: FHFA 2026 conforming limits (Nov 2025 announcement); Zillow ZHVI Sep 2026 (via Clever); Tax Foundation Property Taxes by State and County 2026 (2024 ACS); NAIC 2022 HO-3 premiums via Insurance Information Institute (May 2025); DSHA program materials.; rate: 7.40% (Freddie Mac PMMS, week ending October 15, 2026)
Delaware first-time buyer programs
- DSHA Welcome Home Mortgage (Delaware Mortgage Program) — 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage for first-time buyers (no ownership in the past three years) with below-market rates. Pairs with Smart Start (no assistance) or DPA options; 620 minimum credit score. Official site
- DSHA First State Home Loan (3% DPA) — Down payment assistance equal to 3% of the first mortgage as a zero-interest, fully deferred second mortgage, due on sale, refinance, or transfer. Must pair with a Welcome Home or Open Door first mortgage. Official site
How to use this calculator
This calculator comes pre-filled with Delaware’s $406,074 typical home value, the 0.54% effective property tax rate, and $1,103 per year for homeowner’s insurance. Delaware’s 2026 conforming limit is $832,750 statewide, so the calculator flags loans above that as jumbo. Sussex County beach homes and Wilmington suburbs can run well above the state median, so adjust the price field to your county, and remember Delaware’s 4% realty transfer tax (usually split between buyer and seller) when budgeting closing costs.
Worked example: a median Delaware home
Take a median-priced Delaware home at $406,074. With 20% down ($81,214.80), the loan amount is $324,859.20. At 7.40% (Freddie Mac PMMS, week ending October 15, 2026) on a 30-year fixed term, principal and interest come to $2,249.26/month. Add property tax of about $182.73/month (0.54% of $406,074, divided by 12) and insurance of about $91.92/month ($1,103 a year), for a total estimated payment of $2,523.91/month. Over 30 years, total interest would be about $484,874.21. Your rate, down payment, and county tax bill will move these numbers — use the calculator above with your own figures.
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Delaware?
The 2026 conforming loan limit for a one-unit home in Delaware is $832,750 in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties. Delaware has no designated high-cost counties.
How much are property taxes in Delaware?
Delaware’s median effective property tax rate is about 0.54% (Tax Foundation 2026), roughly $2,193 a year on the $406,074 typical home. Recent county-wide reassessments have shifted individual bills, so confirm the current assessment on any home you are considering.
What first-time homebuyer programs does Delaware offer?
DSHA’s Welcome Home program is the core first-time-buyer mortgage under the Delaware Mortgage Program, and buyers can add First State (3%), Keys4You (4%), or Take5 (5%) down payment assistance as zero-interest second mortgages. The Open Door track serves repeat buyers.
How much does homeowner’s insurance cost in Delaware?
The average HO-3 premium was about $1,103 a year in 2022 (NAIC via III), below the national average. Coastal Sussex County buyers should price separate flood insurance, which standard policies exclude.
What closing-cost quirk should Delaware buyers know?
Delaware’s realty transfer tax is 4% of the sale price, typically split 2% buyer and 2% seller, which is high by national standards. On the $406,074 typical home, the buyer’s share alone is over $8,100, so build it into your cash-to-close estimate.