Howard County, Maryland
Mortgage Broker in Howard County, MD
- Jumbo above $832,750
- H-1B and green card buyers
- Physician loans
Howard County has Maryland's highest household incomes, top-ranked schools and large South Asian and Korean communities in Columbia and Ellicott City. It also sits in the Baltimore metro, with a lower loan limit than Montgomery. SAI Mortgage is a Maryland-licensed mortgage broker in Howard County MD that plans around both.
Office
8000 Towers Crescent Dr, Suite 210
Vienna, VA 22182
Phone
(703) 752-1805- HoursMon to Fri, 9 AM to 6 PM
- WeekendsClosed
- Languages8, including Hindi and Urdu
- NMLS179997
Where we lend
All of Howard County, from Columbia and Ellicott City to Clarksville, Fulton, Elkridge and Savage
Open in Google Maps- $748KTypical Ellicott City home
- $518KTypical Columbia home
- $832,7502026 conforming limit
- 6 daysTypical time to pending
Zillow Home Value Index and market data through 30 June 2026. 2026 Baltimore-metro conforming limit.
Where we lend
Howard County areas we cover in depth
Our Columbia and Ellicott City page covers local prices and neighborhoods. Our mortgage broker in Howard County MD team lends everywhere else in the county too.
Loan programs
Loans that fit how Howard County buys
High incomes and a lower loan limit mean more jumbo files here than the price tags suggest. Howard County home loans have to plan for that.
Jumbo loans
A jumbo loan Howard County buyers need starts above $832,750, far lower than Montgomery's limit. We compare jumbo options.
About jumbo loansConventional for visa holders
H-1B and L-1 workers at Fort Meade contractors and Johns Hopkins APL can often use conventional loans.
Visa and foreign national loansPhysician loans
A physician mortgage Maryland doctors use can ask for little down and treat student loans fairly.
About physician loansFirst-time buyer loans
Maryland Mortgage Program help can apply in Howard, within its limits.
About first-time buyer loansFHA loans
3.5 percent down, up to the $747,500 Baltimore-metro FHA limit.
About FHA loansRefinance and cash-out
Long-time Columbia owners can use equity for renovations or a move.
About refinancingWhy us
A different limit, planned from day one
A lender used to Montgomery County numbers can get Howard wrong. As a Maryland-licensed mortgage broker in Howard County MD, we start with the $832,750 limit and build every option from there.
We show you the jumbo line
In Clarksville and Fulton, many homes cross $832,750 even with 10 percent down. We show what staying conforming takes.
Gifts from family abroad
Parents often help with the down payment. We show you the wire and gift-letter trail lenders need.
Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and Bangla
The loan officer who speaks with you in your language stays on your file to closing.
No credit check to start
We ask how you earn first. We pull credit only when you choose to move forward.
The Howard County market
Fast sales, a lower limit
Zillow placed the typical Ellicott City home near $748,152 and the typical Columbia home near $518,039 in June 2026. Both went pending in about 6 days, and more than half of sales closed above list.
Census estimates show ZIP-level median values from about $419,200 in Savage to $999,400 in West Friendship. With a $832,750 conforming limit, a mortgage broker in Howard County MD should flag jumbo risk before you tour the western end of the county.
Home values across Howard County
Zillow (June 2026) and Census ZIP estimates
- Savage, ZIP 20763$419,200
- Columbia$518,039
- Ellicott City$748,152
- West Friendship, ZIP 21794$999,400
- 2026 conforming limit$832,750
- 2026 FHA limit$747,500
Taxes and closing costs
What changes in Howard County
Howard sits in the Baltimore metro, not the Washington metro. Here is what that means.
Conforming limit
Loans above this are jumbo. Montgomery and Prince George's use $1,249,125.
FHA limit
FHA loans cap here for one-unit homes in Howard for 2026.
State and county closing taxes
First-time Maryland buyers pay no share of the state transfer tax on an owner-occupied home. County taxes still apply.
2026 FHFA and HUD one-unit limits as summarized by lenders; confirm against official tables. We confirm taxes for your exact address.
Who we help
Which one sounds like you?
Most calls about Howard County home loans start with one of these four.
"We are on H-1Bs and want a house in the Ellicott City school zones."
Conventional loans often work with valid work authorization. We explain it in Hindi or English.
Getting a mortgage"The Clarksville house is $950,000."
With 10 percent down, that is a jumbo here. We show what it takes to stay conforming.
Conforming vs jumbo"I start at Howard County General next year."
Physician loans can close on your contract and count deferred loans fairly.
Student loans and physician DTI"My parents in Delhi want to help with the down payment."
Gift funds from abroad can work with the right paper trail.
Down payment basicsMeeting in person
Howard County to our Vienna office
Most Maryland files close by phone and secure upload. If you want to sit down with your mortgage broker in Howard County MD, we are about an hour away. Times below are estimates outside rush hour.
- From ColumbiaUS-29 south to I-495 westAbout 50 min
- From Ellicott CityUS-29 south to I-495 westAbout 55 min
- From ClarksvilleMD-32 to I-95 and I-495About 50 min
- From ElkridgeI-95 south to I-495 westAbout 55 min
Before you apply
Worth a read first
Guides Howard County buyers read before searching for a mortgage lender near me.
Other locations
Buying outside Howard County?
Your mortgage broker in Howard County MD team also lends in 13 more counties and cities across Virginia, Maryland and DC. See every one from our locations page.
Find out what you qualify for
Know where the Howard limit hits your budget
Tell us your price range, your visa or job and how you get paid. We will send your conforming and jumbo options, free and in writing.
Call (703) 752-1805 to reach a mortgage broker in Howard County MD directly, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Already have paperwork? Upload your documents securely.
SAI Mortgage, Inc. NMLS 179997. Licensed in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Equal Housing Opportunity. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval, property review and program guidelines. Loan limits, tax rates and market figures are for 2026 and may change.
FAQ
Howard County buyers ask us
What is the 2026 loan limit in Howard County?
The 2026 one-unit conforming limit is $832,750, and the FHA limit is $747,500. A mortgage broker in Howard County MD like SAI shows where your price crosses into jumbo territory.
Why is Howard's limit lower than Montgomery's?
Howard County is in the Baltimore metro area, where limits are set lower than in the Washington metro, which includes Montgomery and Prince George's.
Can H-1B holders buy in Howard County?
Often, yes, with a conventional loan and valid work authorization. HUD ended FHA eligibility for non-permanent residents in 2025.
Do physician loans work above $832,750?
Some do, often up to higher loan amounts than a standard conforming loan. We compare lenders.
Can I use the Maryland Mortgage Program in Howard?
Often, yes, if you meet its income and price limits.
Is SAI licensed in Maryland?
Yes. SAI Mortgage, NMLS 179997, is licensed in Maryland, Virginia and DC.