Biddeford, Saco and Kennebunk Mortgage Hub: York County FHA Limits and Mill Rates — Maine Home in View
Updated October 2026
A Biddeford multi-family, a Saco single-family home and an Old Orchard Beach condominium require different financing checks even within York County. Kennebunk buyers face the same basic comparison problem: the listing price alone does not reveal the monthly cost. Taxes, insurance, association obligations and intended occupancy deserve their own lines in the budget.
Read mill rates with assessed values
A municipal mill rate expresses tax per $1,000 of taxable assessed value. A lower rate does not necessarily mean a lower bill, because assessments and exemptions also differ. Revaluations can change assessed values and rates together, making comparisons based on a single number misleading.
For illustration, a $400,000 taxable assessment at 15 mills produces $6,000 in annual property tax. That is a calculation example, not a current rate for any York County municipality.
Ask for the latest tax bill and determine whether it reflects exemptions you will need to establish independently. Maine's Homestead Exemption removes $25,000 from assessed value for qualifying homeowners after the 12-month residency requirement, with applications due April 1. Maine Revenue Services explains property-tax relief; the Property Tax Fairness Credit is a separate benefit for eligible households.
Apply York County limits to the right property
York County's 2026 FHA limits exceed the $541,287 national floor. Confirm the county and number of units through HUD FHA Mortgage Limits before selecting a financing strategy. The 2026 baseline conforming limit is $832,750 for one-unit properties throughout Maine; multi-unit limits differ.
Owner-occupied multi-family financing may allow qualifying rental income, but leases and appraisal findings matter. Beach-area condominium purchases require attention to project eligibility, insurance and rental characteristics. A seasonal unit or hotel-like operation may not qualify for the same financing as a conventional residential condominium.
Plan settlement cash without draining reserves
Maine's transfer tax totals 0.44%, calculated at $2.20 per $500, and is ordinarily divided equally between buyer and seller. The buyer's usual 0.22% share is $990 on a $450,000 transaction. Qualifying MaineHousing First Home buyers receive the buyer-half exemption.
Explore MaineHousing for the First Home Loan and its $5,000 Advantage grant. Confirm eligibility before subtracting assistance from your expected cash requirement.
Build a property-specific comparison with the monthly payment calculator and closing cost estimator. Include landlord reserves for multi-families and potential assessments for condominiums. A slightly lower mortgage payment can be outweighed by an underfunded association or an immediate building repair.
Compare Current Mortgage Rates
Compare current APRs, points, fees, and estimated monthly payments from participating lenders below.
Loan Program Comparison: 2026 Benchmarks
Biddeford, Saco and Kennebunk Mortgage Hub: York County FHA Limits and Mill Rates — Compare the 3.5% down option at 580+ FICO with 10% at 500–579, lender overlays, 1.75% upfront MIP and the applicable annual MIP tier.
Historical 2025 one-unit comparison: conforming $832,750; FHA floor $541,287. County and unit-count limits can differ.
| Loan program | Down payment / equity | 2026 one-unit baseline | Costs and page-specific comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHA | 3.5% at 580+; 10% at 500–579 | $541,287 floor | 1.75% upfront MIP; 0.55% annual for >95% LTV, base loan ≤$726,200, term >15 years |
| Conventional | 3%–5% subject to eligibility | $832,750 | PMI generally below 20% down |
| VA | 0% for eligible borrowers | No VA limit with full entitlement | No monthly PMI; funding fee unless exempt |
| USDA | 0% for eligible borrowers | Income, address and repayment eligibility | Guarantee and annual fees; confirm current schedule |
| Jumbo | Lender-specific cash and reserves | Above applicable conforming limit | Lender-specific pricing and insurance |
| Home Equity / Refinance | Equity and underwriting dependent | Property and lender dependent | Compare closing costs, term and break-even |
Sources: FHFA limits; HUD FHA limits.
Editorial Methodology & Primary Sources
Verification date: Not recorded; check the primary source and lender timestamp before relying on an estimate.
Rate comparisons use participating lender feeds, not a whole-market survey or guaranteed offers. Freddie Mac PMMS is a market benchmark, not a personalized quote. Calculator models rely on published regulatory formulas and disclosed assumptions rather than fabricated first-person loan testing.
Monthly principal and interest use the amortization formula P × r / (1 − (1 + r)−n), where r is the monthly note rate and n is the number of payments; at zero interest use P / n. PITI adds monthly property taxes and homeowners insurance; PMI is separate. APR includes applicable finance charges under Regulation Z and is not the note rate used for payments. Compare lender Loan Estimates for actual APR and fees.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — Loan Estimates, APR and borrower disclosures; Regulation Z.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD / FHA) — FHA program guidance.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — VA loan eligibility and benefits.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) — published rate benchmarks.
- U.S. Census state tax collections — state property tax benchmarks; confirm parcel-specific assessments and exemptions with the state revenue department and local assessor.
- MaineHousing — state housing finance and property tax authority.
- Maine Revenue Services — state housing finance and property tax authority.
The payment snapshot uses illustrative annual taxes of 1% of home price, $1,200 insurance and 0.5% PMI below 20% down, not verified local quotes. Other calculators disclose their inputs and assumptions. Published guidance and lender feeds may change independently; confirm current program rules, taxes and offers before a decision.