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Twin Cities suburbs · Minnesota

Mortgage lender in Washington County, MN

Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #2190975, is licensed in Minnesota and makes purchase and refinance loans in Washington County: conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo and non-QM. Steve Umansky, NMLS #61764, is our licensed loan officer for Minnesota. For 2026 the one-unit conforming loan limit here is $832,750 and the FHA limit is $552,000.

Reviewed by Steve Umansky, Sr. Branch Manager, NMLS #61764,

Buying in Washington County

Washington County, with its county seat in Stillwater, also takes in Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Forest Lake, Hugo and Lake Elmo. Washington County files are handled by Steve Umansky, Sr. Branch Manager, NMLS #61764, who is licensed in Minnesota, from our Southampton, PA office.

2026 conforming limit
$832,750
2026 FHA limit
$552,000 (one-unit, set by HUD)
Above the conforming limit
Jumbo pricing
Closing commonly handled by
title company
State housing agency
Minnesota Housing (general information; not a participating lender)

2026 limits for a one-unit property. Washington County is not designated a high-cost area for conforming loans, so the national baseline of $832,750 applies. Sources: FHFA conforming loan limit values and HUD FHA mortgage limits.

Washington County: Woodbury, Stillwater and the St. Croix

Woodbury, Cottage Grove and Lake Elmo have grown rapidly, and much of what sells there is recent or new construction in neighborhoods with association dues. A builder purchase means reading the contract and matching the rate lock to the completion date.

Stillwater and the towns along the St. Croix River are older, and some riverfront properties are in a mapped flood zone or subject to river-corridor building rules. In the northern and central townships, around Scandia, May and Grant, homes sit on acreage with wells and septic systems, where a septic compliance inspection is a regular part of a sale.

Washington County by the numbers

Typical property tax
About 0.99% of home value a year: median tax bill $4,164 on a median value of $422,000 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B25103)
Transfer tax
Deed tax of 0.33% of the price (Minn. Stat. § 287.21)
Largest communities
Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Forest Lake (Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024, table B01003)

The county median home value is $422,000. The 2026 one-unit conforming loan limit here is $832,750 and the FHA limit is $552,000.

Census figures are survey estimates for owner-occupied homes, not appraisals or tax quotes. We use the actual tax bill for the property when we quote.

Closing and programs in Minnesota

Closings in Minnesota are typically handled by a title company. The closing process, state transfer and recording taxes and first-time buyer programs are covered on the Minnesota page. Property taxes are set locally; we take the figure from the tax record for the address.

Questions Washington County buyers ask

Does Stellar Mortgage lend in Washington County, MN?

Yes. Stellar Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #2190975, is licensed in Minnesota and makes purchase and refinance loans in Washington County: conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo and non-QM. Steve Umansky, NMLS #61764, is our licensed loan officer for Minnesota and works Minnesota files from our Southampton, PA office by phone, secure portal and e-signature.

What are the 2026 loan limits in Washington County?

For 2026 the conforming loan limit for a one-unit home in Washington County is $832,750 and the FHA limit is $552,000. Washington County is not designated a high-cost area for conforming loans, so the national baseline of $832,750 applies. Limits for two- to four-unit properties are higher.

Is there down payment help for buyers in Washington County?

The Minnesota Housing runs Minnesota’s homebuyer programs, which can include help with the down payment and closing costs for buyers who meet its income and price limits. Stellar Mortgage is not a participating lender for those programs, so this is general information; the agency’s website lists participating lenders.

Who pays the transfer tax in Washington County?

The deed tax is 0.33 percent of the price, or 0.34 percent in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. A separate mortgage registry tax applies when the mortgage is recorded. The contract sets who pays the deed tax.

Limits shown are the 2026 FHFA and HUD figures for Washington County. Loan limits, tax rates and agency programs are set by third parties and change. Not a commitment to lend.

Get pre-approved in Washington County

Three quick steps, about a minute. No Social Security number, no pay stubs. Steve calls you back, usually the same business day.

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