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By iQRATE Mortgages · Mortgage broker: David Ghazaryan, NMLS 1486726 · Company NMLS 1862492 · Updated November 10, 2026
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Quick answer
An FHA loan is a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration, part of HUD. That insurance lets approved lenders accept a lower credit score and a smaller cash contribution than many conventional loans. For 2026, the FHA limit in Miami-Dade County, which includes Hialeah, is $667,000 for a one-unit home (HUD FHA limits file; HUD Mortgagee Letter 2025-23). That figure is a high-cost county limit, but it is still below the county's conforming cap. The same county's conforming limit is $832,750 (FHFA 2026 conforming loan limits; FHFA 2026 county list). A credit score of 580 or higher is eligible for maximum financing of 96.5 percent of the price; 500 to 579 is limited to 90%. iQRATE Mortgages (NMLS 1862492) is a mortgage broker licensed in Florida. We compare FHA lenders for you, because each one adds its own rules on top of HUD's.
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| Item | What applies in Hialeah for 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FHA limit, one unit | $667,000 (Miami-Dade County) | HUD |
| FHA limits, two to four units | $853,900 / $1,032,150 / $1,282,700 | HUD |
| Conforming limit, one unit | $832,750 (baseline, not a higher high-cost cap) | FHFA |
| Credit score for maximum financing | 580 or higher: up to 96.5 percent loan-to-value on a purchase | HUD; FDIC program summary |
| Credit score 500 to 579 | Up to 90% loan-to-value | HUD |
| Occupancy | Primary residence, one to four units | FDIC summary of HUD 203(b) |
| Annual mortgage insurance length | 11 years at 90% loan-to-value or less; otherwise the loan term | HUD Mortgagee Letter 2023-05 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes, Hialeah | $392,000 (2020 to 2024) | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Median household income, Hialeah | $55,594 (2020 to 2024, in 2024 dollars) | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| County down payment help | Miami-Dade down payment assistance: zero-interest deferred loan up to $35,000, for up to 30 years, when you qualify | Miami-Dade County PHCD |
| Documentary stamp tax on a deed | $0.60 per $100 in Miami-Dade; single-family residences are exempt from the $0.45 surtax | Florida Department of Revenue |
Program and public-record facts, not a quote. Lenders can add their own requirements.
Apply now if you already have a price range. Or contact us and we will walk through the limit, county help and conventional as a backup.
An FHA loan is made by an approved lender and insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The insurance is what lets lenders accept lower credit scores and higher loan-to-value ratios than many conventional loans. You still apply with a lender or a broker. HUD does not lend you the money.
Hialeah buyers often look at FHA for a practical cash reason. At 96.5 percent financing, the cash toward the price is smaller than a typical 20 percent conventional down payment. It can also be smaller than some 5 percent conventional programs after you add mortgage insurance. A 580 credit score can still be eligible for that maximum financing under HUD's published bands. The home still has to be a primary residence, and it has to meet FHA property rules.
The local numbers support that path for many one-unit purchases. The Census Bureau's QuickFacts value for owner-occupied homes in the city is $392,000 for 2020 to 2024. That is about $275,000 below the $667,000 FHA limit. About 46.6% of occupied homes in the city are owner-occupied. The median household income is $55,594 in 2024 dollars, and per capita income is $26,435. The July 1, 2025 population estimate is 230,968. About 95.1% of residents are Hispanic or Latino, and 92.6% of people age 5 or older speak a language other than English at home. Those figures describe the market. They do not qualify any one buyer.
FHA is not automatically cheaper than conventional. Annual mortgage insurance lasts for the full term when the loan-to-value starts above 90%. Conventional private mortgage insurance can end sooner once you have enough equity. We price both on the same file when the credit and cash could support either one. Most of the FHA files we discuss here use a 30-year fixed rate, not an adjustable-rate mortgage. If you want an FHA ARM, we price it only from a current lender Loan Estimate, not from this page.
HUD sets FHA limits by county, not by city. Hialeah sits in Miami-Dade County. For 2026, HUD's forward limits file lists these 203(b) limits for the county:
| Units | 2026 FHA limit | 2026 conforming limit |
|---|---|---|
| One unit | $667,000 | $832,750 |
| Two units | $853,900 | $1,066,250 |
| Three units | $1,032,150 | $1,288,800 |
| Four units | $1,282,700 | $1,601,750 |
The one-unit FHA figure is above HUD's 2026 national floor of $541,287, so the county is a high-cost FHA area. It is still well below the FHA ceiling of $1,249,125. The conforming limit in Miami-Dade County is the national baseline of $832,750, not a higher high-cost conforming cap.
That gap matters if the loan would fall between the two caps. A one-unit loan above $667,000 cannot be a standard FHA loan in this county. A loan up to $832,750 can still be conventional conforming. Above $832,750, a conventional loan is jumbo in this county. We put those options side by side when the price is close to the FHA cap. Use the limit checker below with the actual price and the share you would finance.
The limit applies to the base loan amount, not just the contract price. Financed upfront mortgage insurance counts toward the cap. If 96.5 percent of the price plus that premium would go over $667,000, the file may need more cash or a different program.
HUD's published purchase bands are straightforward. A credit score of 580 or higher can be eligible for maximum financing of 96.5 percent of the lesser of the price or the appraised value. A score from 500 to 579 is limited to 90% loan-to-value. Many lenders add their own overlays above those floors. We tell you the overlay before you write an offer, not after the appraisal is ordered.
The home has to be your primary residence. FHA's 203(b) program covers one- to four-unit properties when you live in one of the units. Investment purchases and most second homes are outside this program. You still have to document income, assets and debts. Self-employed buyers, buyers with gift funds and buyers with recent credit events can still be eligible when the file is complete. The lender, not HUD, makes the underwriting decision on your file.
We confirm occupancy, citizenship or residency status, and the lender's current overlays on every file. Those rules come from HUD and from the lender, and they can change. This page does not replace that file-level review. County down payment programs can also have their own residency rules, which we treat as separate from FHA itself.
HUD's 580 and 500 bands are the starting point, not the last word. Some FHA lenders want a mid-600 score for the pricing they advertise. Some will work a mid-500s file with more cash and extra conditions. We shop the file to lenders whose overlays match the credit, the condo or the gift funds you actually have.
FHA charges an upfront mortgage insurance premium and an annual premium. The upfront premium is usually financed into the loan. The annual premium is collected monthly. HUD Mortgagee Letter 2023-05 sets the duration. If the starting loan-to-value (LTV) is 90% or less, the annual premium lasts 11 years. Otherwise it lasts for the term of the loan.
| Starting LTV | How long the annual premium lasts | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 90% LTV or less | 11 years | HUD Mortgagee Letter 2023-05 |
| Above 90% LTV | The term of the loan | HUD Mortgagee Letter 2023-05 |
That duration is why a 3.5 percent down FHA loan can cost more over time than a conventional loan with cancellable mortgage insurance. It is also why some buyers later refinance to conventional credit once the equity and the credit support it. That is a later decision, not a requirement of the purchase.
Two short iQRATE explainers on FHA mortgage insurance and FHA appraisals:
It depends on your credit, cash and the loan size. The county detail that matters most here is the gap between the two caps. FHA stops at $667,000 on a one-unit home. Conventional conforming credit continues to $832,750. Above that, a conventional loan is jumbo.
| One-unit loan size | Standard FHA in this county? | Conventional path |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $667,000 | Yes, if the file meets FHA rules | Also possible; compare mortgage insurance and cash |
| Above $667,000 and up to $832,750 | No, over the FHA cap | Conforming conventional, including high-balance rules if the lender uses them |
| Above $832,750 | No | Jumbo conventional |
Here is how those caps look at four Hialeah price points. The FHA column uses 96.5 percent financing, before any financed upfront mortgage insurance. These figures are illustrations from the official 2026 limits, not a Loan Estimate and not a payment quote.
| Purchase price | FHA loan at 96.5% | Cash toward the price at 3.5% | Conventional path at this price |
|---|---|---|---|
| $392,000 (Census median value, 2020 to 2024) | $378,280 | $13,720 | Under both caps, so standard conforming can also apply |
| $500,000 | $482,500 | $17,500 | Still under the $667,000 FHA cap |
| About $691,192 (the price that reaches the one-unit FHA cap at 96.5%, before any financed upfront premium) | $667,000 | About $24,192 | At the FHA cap; conventional conforming can still continue up to $832,750 |
| $700,000 | $675,500 | $24,500 | Over the FHA cap; still under the $832,750 conforming limit |
Financed upfront mortgage insurance counts toward the $667,000 cap, so the highest contract price that still fits can be a little lower than $691,192. Fannie Mae's current Eligibility Matrix caps many high-balance conforming purchases at 95% loan-to-value. That is a conventional rule, not an FHA rule. In this county a loan above $832,750 is jumbo, not high-balance conforming. A credit score, a condo waiver or a gift-fund issue can also tilt the choice even when the loan is under $667,000.
Yes, when the project is on HUD's approved list or can be approved in time for the loan. Search the project on HUD's FHA-approved condominiums tool before you write a condo offer. A townhome that is not a condominium may be treated as a single-family home, which is a different review. HOA questionnaires, budget documents and any special assessment all go to the underwriter.
If the project is not approved, we tell you that before you spend money on an appraisal. Some projects can be submitted for approval. Some cannot be approved in a normal closing window. That is a project fact, not a judgment about the unit.
The FHA appraiser checks value and minimum property standards. The report looks at health and safety items, soundness and obvious repairs. Peeling paint on pre-1978 homes, missing handrails, roof life, non-functioning heat or air conditioning and exposed wiring are common conditions. The appraiser is not a full home inspector. A separate inspection is still a good idea.
If the appraisal comes in below the price, FHA will not insure a loan above the appraised value at the usual loan-to-value. You can renegotiate, bring more cash or walk away if the contract allows it. If repairs are required, they have to be finished or escrowed under the lender's rules before the loan can close. Flood-zone and elevation questions, when they apply, belong in the insurance and inspection review as well as the appraisal.
Hialeah buyers who are Miami-Dade County residents may qualify for county help, and for Florida Housing programs, when funded and when the file fits the rules. The official city homepage, as fetched for this draft, did not publish a current city first-time buyer amount we can cite. We will not invent a City of Hialeah SHIP figure. If the city later posts a funded program, we confirm the amount and the first-mortgage rules on your file.
Miami-Dade County's Affordable Homeownership Program can provide a mortgage subsidy through CDBG, HOME, SHIP or Surtax income guidelines. Public Housing and Community Development works with participating lenders on a low-interest second or third mortgage. Participation is limited to one time per family. The page also describes a Down Payment Assistance Program of zero-interest deferred loans with a maximum amount of $35,000, for up to 30 years. There is a minimum down payment of 3 percent, and 1 percent must come from the borrower's own funds. Applicants must be Miami-Dade County residents at the time of application, and they must be U.S. citizens or have legal permanent residency immigration status under the county's published rules. The county also requires at least 24 months in the same line of work and a maximum total debt ratio of 45% of gross monthly income. Those are county program rules, not FHA rules.
Florida Housing can add more help on a participating first mortgage. FL Assist offers up to $10,000 on FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loans as a 0%, non-amortizing, deferred second mortgage that is not forgivable. The Florida Homeownership Loan Program offers $12,500 as a 3% fully amortizing second mortgage with a 30-year term, so that payment may count in the debt ratio. Florida Hometown Heroes is for eligible first-time, income-qualified buyers in listed occupations, including health care workers, school staff, first responders, public safety or court employees, child care workers, servicemembers and certain veterans employed full time by a Florida-based employer. For 2026, the second mortgage is 0%, non-amortizing and deferred for 30 years, not forgivable, and sized at up to 5% of the first mortgage with a $10,000 minimum and a $35,000 maximum. There is no cost to apply for Hometown Heroes through a participating lender. Florida Housing also describes reduced upfront fees and no origination points or discount points on that program.
These official program amounts are starting points, not a reservation of funds. Each program has income, occupancy, lender and timing rules. We confirm what a first-mortgage lender will accept before you count on a second loan.
| Program | What it can provide | Rate and term | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade Down Payment Assistance | Up to $35,000 toward down payment and closing costs | 0% interest, deferred, for up to 30 years | Miami-Dade PHCD |
| Miami-Dade Homebuyer Loan Program | Up to $100,000 at 1% interest, or up to $80,000 at 2%, based on vulnerability-ranked areas | 30-year loan | Miami-Dade PHCD |
| Florida Housing FL Assist | Up to $10,000 on FHA, VA, USDA or conventional loans | 0%, deferred, not forgivable | Florida Housing |
| Florida Homeownership Loan Program | $12,500 | 3% fully amortizing second mortgage, 30-year term | Florida Housing |
| Florida Hometown Heroes (2026) | Up to 5% of the first mortgage, with a $10,000 minimum and a $35,000 maximum | 0%, deferred for 30 years, not forgivable | Florida Housing |
The Miami-Dade Homebuyer Loan Program is a county loan. It is not the same product as Florida Housing's Homeownership Loan Program, which is the $12,500 second mortgage described above.
The county Homebuyer Program is open to households that earn from 30% up to 140% of area median income. These FY 2025 limits are adjusted for family size and come from the official PHCD chart. Limits change. The county page also lists 50% and 100% AMI figures and larger household sizes.
| Family size | Low income (80% of AMI) | 120% of AMI | Program maximum (140% of AMI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $69,400 | $104,160 | $121,520 |
| 2 | $79,300 | $118,920 | $138,740 |
| 3 | $89,200 | $133,800 | $156,100 |
| 4 | $99,100 | $148,680 | $173,460 |
A Hialeah household at the city's median income of $55,594 would be under the 80% AMI line for a one- to four-person household on this chart. That is a starting income screen, not an approval.
County assistance is separate from FHA's 3.5 percent cash-to-price rule. For the Miami-Dade programs above, the official minimum down payment is 3 percent of the price, and 1 percent must come from the borrower's own funds. Here is that county rule at three local prices.
| Purchase price | 3% minimum down payment (county program rule) | Of that, 1% from the borrower's own funds |
|---|---|---|
| $392,000 | $11,760 | $3,920 |
| $500,000 | $15,000 | $5,000 |
| $667,000 | $20,010 | $6,670 |
For 2026, Hometown Heroes is sized at up to 5% of the first mortgage, with a $10,000 minimum and a $35,000 maximum. The examples below use those official program rules. They are not an award and not a payment quote.
| First mortgage amount | 5% of that loan | 2026 program amount after the minimum and maximum |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $7,500 | $10,000 (the minimum applies) |
| $200,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| $378,280 (96.5% of the Census median price) | $18,914 | $18,914 |
| $482,500 (96.5% of a $500,000 price) | $24,125 | $24,125 |
| $667,000 (the one-unit FHA cap) | $33,350 | $33,350 |
| $700,000 | $35,000 | $35,000 (the maximum applies) |
Florida homeowners who qualify can file for a homestead exemption that decreases the property's taxable value by as much as $50,000, and that exemption also qualifies the home for the Save Our Homes assessment limit. You apply with the county property appraiser after you occupy the home as your permanent residence. The Florida Department of Revenue's exemptions page, fetched for this revision, states that the exemption can decrease the property's taxable value by as much as $50,000 and that it qualifies the home for the Save Our Homes assessment limitation. Some parts of an exemption may not apply to every tax levy. Confirm the exact treatment with the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser. The calculator below does not assume the exemption. It only uses the tax rate you enter.
| Example assessed value | Homestead exemption, if you qualify (up to $50,000) | Taxable value after that exemption |
|---|---|---|
| $200,000 (illustration, not a local median) | $50,000 | $150,000 |
| $392,000 (Census median owner-occupied value) | $50,000 | $342,000 |
| $500,000 | $50,000 | $450,000 |
Documentary stamp taxes in Miami-Dade County are not the same as in most of Florida. The Florida Department of Revenue explains that most counties charge 70 cents per $100 of consideration on documents subject to the tax. In Miami-Dade County the documentary stamp tax on those documents is 60 cents per $100. Miami-Dade also has a 45-cent discretionary surtax, but transfers of single-family residences are exempt from that surtax. Notes and mortgages are taxed at 35 cents per $100, and the tax on a note is capped at $2,450. The cap applies to the note. Official DOR rules do not apply that same $2,450 cap to the tax on a mortgage or lien. Those are closing costs, not monthly loan payments, and your title company computes the exact amount on the final figures.
Here are worked Miami-Dade examples at local prices, using those official rates and a 96.5 percent FHA loan where a loan amount is shown. Single-family residences are treated as exempt from the surtax in these rows. The figures are illustrations, not a title bill.
| Purchase price and example FHA loan | Deed tax at $0.60 per $100 | Note tax at $0.35 per $100 (capped at $2,450) |
|---|---|---|
| $392,000 price and a $378,280 loan | $2,352 | $1,323.98 |
| $500,000 price and a $482,500 loan | $3,000 | $1,688.75 |
| $667,000 price and a $643,655 loan | $4,002 | $2,252.79 |
| A $700,000 note | Deed tax depends on the price, not the note | $2,450 (the cap is reached at a $700,000 note) |
Property tax, HOA dues, insurance and any required flood insurance all go into the debt-to-income ratio. The Census Bureau's median selected monthly owner cost with a mortgage in the city is $2,073 for 2020 to 2024. Without a mortgage, that owner-cost median is $590. Median gross rent is $1,689. Those are citywide medians, not your payment or your rent. We price the full monthly housing cost before you make an offer.
We have not closed a Hialeah FHA loan that we can verify, so we do not claim one. The files below are real closings in other markets. FHA rules are federal, so the HUD steps are the same steps a Hialeah FHA buyer follows. They are not local results and not a promise about your loan.
Those two files show how we work a purchase when the program, the cap and the timeline all matter. They remain other-market files. They are not Hialeah closings.
iQRATE Mortgages is a mortgage broker licensed in Florida, California, Texas and Nevada. David Ghazaryan (NMLS 1486726) works your file with the team. We do not claim a Hialeah retail branch. We compare FHA and conventional lenders for Miami-Dade County, then we stay with the file through conditions and closing.
A typical first call covers the price range, the property type, credit, income and cash. We also ask whether county assistance, Florida Housing or Hometown Heroes is part of the plan. Then we run lender overlays against that picture. If a condo, a gift or a credit event would block one lender, we move the file to a lender that can actually proceed.
You get a written Loan Estimate from the lender we submit to, not a vague quote on this page. FHA lender overlays vary, especially on credit scores, reserves and debt ratios. Some files also need a discussion of origination points versus a higher rate. That is a Loan Estimate comparison, not a rate quote on this page. We do not quote interest rates or monthly loan payments here. This page is general information, not a commitment to lend.
Enter a purchase price, the number of units and the share of the price you would finance. The tool compares the loan amount with the 2026 Miami-Dade County FHA limits and with the $832,750 conforming cap. It can also turn a tax rate you enter into an annual and monthly tax estimate. It does not use an interest rate and does not quote a loan payment.
These are our standing written guarantees. Each one has its own page with the full terms; see all iQRATE guarantees.
Real 5-star reviews, quoted word for word, with the reviewer's first name and last initial. They describe working with David Ghazaryan and the iQRATE team overall, not a Hialeah closing and not a promise about your loan.
“My experience with the IQRATE team was phenomenal. I bought my first house and they helped me through the entire process. David , Andrei & Gayane were so helpful, communicative & patient with me as I had so many questions throughout the entire process. They made everything so simple & effortless & I will definitely be working with them for any mortgage needs I have.”
— Anthony Kingston, 5-star review on Google, 3 years ago
“Great professional work! Because of exceptional coordination from Andrei and the team, our escrow was closed seamlessly several days earlier. All our questions and concerns were addressed promptly. My husband and I would highly recommend this team to whoever is looking for a new mortgage or refinancing.”
— Oksana Kozlova, 5-star review on Google, 4 years ago
“David was very professional and went above and beyond to help me purchase my first home. He was very knowledgeable, experienced, and thorough. Anytime I had concerns, he was always there to patiently answer all my questions. I highly recommend David if you are looking to purchase a home.”
— Nomi E. (Las Vegas, NV), 5-star review on Zillow, October 8, 2018
Our ratings: Google 5.0 from 77 reviews. Yelp 5.0 from 51 reviews. Zillow 5.00 from 9 reviews. Read our Google reviews.
If you want those answers in writing on your file, apply now or contact us.
The 2026 FHA limit for a one-unit home in Miami-Dade County is $667,000. Two-, three- and four-unit limits are $853,900, $1,032,150 and $1,282,700. Those figures come from HUD's 2026 forward limits file.
HUD's published purchase bands allow 96.5 percent financing at a 580 credit score or higher. Scores from 500 to 579 are limited to 90% loan-to-value. Lenders can set higher overlays, and we disclose those before you write an offer.
Yes, for many one-unit purchases. The Census Bureau's QuickFacts median owner-occupied value in the city is $392,000 for 2020 to 2024. That is well under the $667,000 county FHA limit. Your contract price and the financed premium still have to be checked on the actual file.
Yes, if the project is on HUD's approved list or can be approved in time. Check HUD's condominium lookup before you write the offer. A townhome that is not a condominium may follow single-family rules instead.
It depends on credit, cash and loan size. FHA stops at $667,000 on a one-unit home. Conventional conforming credit continues to $832,750 in this county. We compare both when either program could fit.
Under HUD Mortgagee Letter 2023-05, the annual premium lasts 11 years when the starting loan-to-value is 90% or less. Otherwise it lasts for the term of the loan. That is one reason some buyers later refinance to conventional credit.
The official city homepage, as fetched for this draft, did not publish a current city first-time buyer amount. Miami-Dade County residents may qualify for a zero-interest deferred county loan of up to $35,000, for up to 30 years, plus Florida Housing and Hometown Heroes when they meet those programs' rules.
It is a Florida Housing program for eligible first-time, income-qualified buyers in listed occupations. For 2026, the second mortgage is 0%, deferred for 30 years, not forgivable, and sized at up to 5% of the first mortgage with a $10,000 minimum and a $35,000 maximum. You apply through a participating lender, and there is no cost to apply.
In Miami-Dade County the documentary stamp tax on documents is 60 cents per $100 of consideration, not the 70-cent rate used in most Florida counties. Single-family residences are exempt from the 45-cent surtax. Notes and mortgages are taxed at 35 cents per $100. The $2,450 cap applies to the tax on the note. It does not cap the tax on a mortgage or lien.
We have not closed a Hialeah FHA loan that we can verify, so we do not claim one. We have closed FHA and other purchase files in other markets, including a 2024 FHA purchase in Spring, Texas, and a late-2025 Southern California condo purchase. Those files are described above and are not local Hialeah results.
Call or text David Ghazaryan (NMLS 1486726) at (702) 766-3744. Tell him the price range, whether you are looking at a house, condo or small multi-unit, and how you earn your income. When you are ready, apply now or contact us to schedule a time to talk. More: Miami mortgage broker · Florida mortgage broker · FHA loans · Jumbo loans
About this page. iQRATE Mortgages LLC · NMLS 1862492 · 6360 S Rainbow Blvd Ste 101, Las Vegas, NV 89118 · Licensed in Nevada, California, Texas and Florida. David Ghazaryan, Mortgage Broker, NMLS 1486726. Verify us on NMLS Consumer Access (nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Equal Housing Opportunity.
This page is general information, not an offer to lend and not a commitment to lend. We do not quote rates or payments on this page. Programs, limits and lender rules change, and every loan needs credit, income, asset, property and underwriting approval. Not all borrowers qualify. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Tax figures are estimates from public rate tables; your bill depends on the assessed value, the taxing units for the exact address and any exemptions. Nothing here is legal or tax advice.