Conventional Loans in Washington State: Flexible Financing Across the Evergreen State

For buyers with solid credit and stable income, a Conventional Loan is often the most cost-effective path to homeownership in Washington. The state’s conforming loan limits follow a clean
three-county/rest-of-state split: King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties carry the $1,063,750 high-cost limit reflecting the Seattle metro’s elevated home prices, while all other 36 Washington counties follow the $832,750 national baseline.

Washington is notable for having no state income tax — no additional state-level cost that affects buyers’ effective purchasing power the way Virginia’s 5.75% or California’s 13.3% income taxes do. WSHFC’s conventional HFA loan products pair with the Home Advantage DPA for eligible buyers.

Conventional Loan Requirements in Washington

Minimum Credit Score

620; 700+ for the best rates

Down Payment

As low as 3% for first-time buyers; 5% for repeat buyers; 20% eliminates PMI

Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI)

Generally up to 45%

Loan Limits

$1,063,750 in King/Pierce/Snohomish; $832,750 in all other WA counties (2026)

Property Types

Primary residences, second homes, and investment properties

Washington's Two-Tier Conforming Loan Landscape

King County ($1,063,750): Seattle (all ZIP codes), Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Renton, Kent, Auburn, Sammamish, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Medina, and every other community in King County. A Bellevue buyer financing a $1.1 million home can use conforming financing — lower rates, smaller down payment, more flexible qualification — rather than Jumbo.

Pierce County ($1,063,750): Tacoma, Lakewood, University Place, Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Fife, and JBLM communities (DuPont, Yelm). For JBLM-area buyers financing in the $400,000–$700,000 range, the elevated limit provides full conventional access.

Snohomish County ($1,063,750): Everett, Mukilteo, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Marysville, Monroe. Reflects its position as the northern extension of the Seattle-Tacoma MSA and Boeing employment hub.

All Other 36 Washington Counties ($832,750): Spokane, Yakima, Bellingham (Whatcom County), Tri-Cities (Benton/Franklin), Vancouver (Clark County), Kennewick, Walla Walla, Port Angeles (Clallam), Anacortes (Skagit), and all of Eastern Washington.

WSHFC Conventional Products

WSHFC’s HFA Advantage conventional products offer lower mortgage insurance rates and pair with the Home Advantage DPA second mortgage (3–5%, 0% interest, 30-year deferred) for eligible buyers meeting income guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions: Conventional Loans in Washington

$1,063,750 — applies to all communities in King County including Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Mercer Island.

$832,750 — Spokane County follows the national baseline.

$1,063,750 — Pierce County carries the high-cost limit, providing maximum conforming access for buyers in Tacoma, Lakewood, DuPont, and JBLM-adjacent communities.

Yes. WSHFC’s HFA Advantage conventional product pairs with the Home Advantage DPA second mortgage (3–5%, 0% interest, 30-year deferred).