Washington · Licensed statewide
Washington: saltwater, mountains, and a different way of life in every direction
A ferry, Mount Rainier and SeattlePhoto: SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where people live in Washington
Five Washingtons, each with its own feel
From Puget Sound's island and peninsula towns to the pine country around Spokane, Washington's regions differ in landscape, pace and housing. Here is a quick sense of each, with links to go deeper.
Kitsap Peninsula
Kitsap County and the Olympic foothills
Waterfront towns on Puget Sound and Hood Canal, with the Olympic Mountains across the water and Naval Base Kitsap at the center of community life. Silverdale, Bremerton, Poulsbo, Port Orchard, Kingston and Bainbridge Island each have their own character: Norwegian-heritage harbors, shipyard neighborhoods, island villages, and wooded acreage with wells and views.
Seattle and the Eastside
The Puget Sound metro
Seattle's leafy neighborhoods of Craftsman homes and view condos, and the Eastside cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond and Issaquah with their lakes, trails and technology employers. Prices run highest here, and so does the variety: from in-city townhomes to lakefront on Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish.
South Sound
Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Olympia
Tacoma's historic North End and growing East Side, Gig Harbor's maritime village and Key Peninsula acreage, and the capital region around Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater, with Joint Base Lewis-McChord nearby. More affordable than King County, with the same mountains, water and evergreen setting.
Southwest Washington
Vancouver and Clark County
Across the Columbia River from Portland, with newer neighborhoods in Ridgefield, Camas and Battle Ground, riverfront parks, and no state income tax. Many households work on one side of the river and live on the other.
Inland Northwest
Spokane and Eastern Washington
Four real seasons, pine forests, the Spokane River running through downtown, and Fairchild Air Force Base to the west. Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and Cheney add newer subdivisions and lake living at prices well below the coast, with North Idaho's lakes an hour away.
Financing in Washington
Licensed in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, helping homebuyers and homeowners explore financing for a wide range of loan programs and scenarios.
Wherever you are buying or refinancing in Washington, Frank compares options from 35+ wholesale lenders competing for your loan and walks you through them. Program details live on one page so they are always current.
Washington community guides
Get a feel for each area, what living there is like, and what to know before you buy. Frank is ready to help with financing whenever you are.
- Kitsap CountyGet to know Kitsap County: Naval Base Kitsap and its military community, Olympic Mountain views, the waterfront towns of Silverdale, Bremerton, Poulsbo, Port Orchard, Bainbridge Island and Kingston, ferries to Seattle, and what living here is like. Financing guidance from Frank Ellerbroek, an independent mortgage broker with deep Kitsap roots.
- Silverdale Mortgage BrokerFinancing a home in Silverdale, WA: buying on PCS orders, new-construction and HOA communities, condos and townhomes, rent-vs-buy for short tours, and comparing lenders.
- Bremerton Mortgage BrokerFinancing a Bremerton home: shipyard and civilian Navy income, older homes and appraisal repairs, renovation loans, downtown condos near the ferry, and small multi-family properties.
- Poulsbo Mortgage BrokerFinancing a Poulsbo or North Kitsap home: buying before you sell, jumbo vs. conforming loans, waterfront and flood insurance, wells and septic, and retirement-income qualifying.
- Port Orchard Mortgage BrokerFinancing a home in Port Orchard and South Kitsap: ferry and shipyard commutes, VA and FHA options, newer subdivisions vs. older homes, sewer and septic, and how a broker compares lenders for you.
- Bainbridge Island Mortgage BrokerFinancing a Bainbridge Island home: jumbo vs. conforming loans, wells and septic, waterfront and flood insurance, qualifying on assets or self-employment income, and buying before you sell.
- Kitsap County First-Time Homebuyer GuideA first-time buyer's guide to Kitsap County: loan programs, Washington down payment assistance, what you need saved, credit basics, and the steps from pre-approval to closing.
- Kitsap County VA LoansA plain-English guide to VA home loans in Kitsap County: zero down with full entitlement, residual income, seller concessions, reusing your entitlement, 2 to 4 unit homes, and VA appraisals.
- Spokane County Mortgage BrokerFinancing a home in Spokane County: VA loans near Fairchild Air Force Base, first-time buyer programs through WSHFC, buying in Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake, multi-unit and investment property, and comparing lenders.
- Seattle Mortgage BrokerFinancing a home in Seattle: King County's higher conforming loan limit, condo and HOA reviews, jumbo vs. conforming pricing, WSHFC and City of Seattle buyer programs, and how an independent broker compares lenders for you.
- Bellevue Mortgage BrokerBuying on the Eastside: Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland and Issaquah jumbo and conforming financing, documenting tech compensation, large down payments and reserves, new construction, and how a broker prices your loan across many lenders.
- Tacoma Mortgage BrokerBuying in Tacoma and Pierce County: VA loans for Joint Base Lewis-McChord families, Pierce County's higher conforming limit, financing older homes with FHA 203(k) and renovation loans, WSHFC assistance, and comparing lenders.
- Vancouver, Washington Mortgage BrokerBuying in Vancouver, Camas, Ridgefield or Battle Ground: Clark County conforming limit, qualifying with Oregon income, Washington's no-income-tax advantage, REET when you sell, new construction, and comparing lenders.
- Olympia Mortgage BrokerBuying in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater or Yelm: Thurston County's conforming limit, qualifying on state employment, USDA-eligible areas on the county's edges, first-time buyer assistance, septic and well homes, and comparing lenders.
- Gig Harbor Mortgage BrokerFinancing in Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula: Pierce County's higher conforming limit, waterfront and view appraisals, second home vs. primary rules, well and septic homes, the Narrows Bridge commute, and comparing lenders.
Good to know when you buy in Washington
- Real estate excise tax
- Washington charges a graduated state excise tax on home sales plus a local rate, customarily paid by the seller. It does not add to a purchase, but it reduces net proceeds when you sell and move up.
- Down payment assistance
- The Washington State Housing Finance Commission's Home Advantage and House Key programs pair assistance with conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans, within income limits and with a homebuyer class.
- VA country
- Naval Base Kitsap, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, JBLM and Fairchild Air Force Base make VA loans a daily topic. Washington is in VA's West region for residual income.
- Conforming limit
- King, Pierce and Snohomish counties have a higher 2026 one-unit conforming limit ($1,063,750) than Kitsap, Thurston, Clark and Spokane (the $832,750 baseline). Loans above the county limit are jumbo.
Watch
How to Get the Best Mortgage (Must Watch)
Frank's introduction to how he works: communication, shopping the market and showing you the options side by side.
Watch on its own pageWashington questions
Is Frank licensed everywhere in Washington?
Yes. Vantage Mortgage Group, Inc. holds Washington License #MB-35986, and Frank originates statewide under it. His individual NMLS number is 128726.
Which loan programs are available in Washington?
Conventional, VA, FHA, USDA, Jumbo, DSCR, Non-QM and Renovation loans, plus manufactured homes, second homes and investment properties, all explained on the loan programs page. The list is the same in Idaho and Oregon.
How does the Washington real estate excise tax affect me?
It is a seller-paid tax at sale, with graduated state tiers and a local rate. Our net proceeds calculator applies it so you can plan your next down payment.
Can I get a VA loan with no down payment in Washington?
With full entitlement, yes, and there is no VA loan limit. Price cannot exceed the VA appraised value and you must qualify on credit, income and residual income.
What clients say about working with Frank
“Frank and his team were responsive, professional yet friendly, and quite knowledgeable. Frank gave us options for our mortgage that we didn't know we had. Our loan process was so easy with Frank and his team!”
“Frank and his team were fabulous to work with. I recently worked with him on a transaction and he represented my buyers as their lender. He was always available for questions and kept us up to date every step of the way. His professionalism and attentiveness made the transaction seamless. Thank you Frank for all of your hard work!”
State notes are general education, not tax or legal advice, and not a commitment to lend. Verify license numbers on NMLS Consumer Access.
Sources
- Washington Department of Financial Institutions: Mortgage broker licensing (opens in a new tab)
- Washington Department of Revenue: Real estate excise tax (opens in a new tab)
- Washington State Housing Finance Commission: Homebuyers (opens in a new tab)
- FHFA: Conforming loan limit values (opens in a new tab)
- VA.gov: VA home loans (opens in a new tab)
- Commander, Navy Region Northwest: Naval Base Kitsap (opens in a new tab)
Thinking about making Washington home?
Thinking about making this community home? I can help you understand your financing options and build a mortgage plan around your goals.