Indiana homebuyer resources, straight from the source
When a program figure matters, go to the agency that sets it. This page collects the official Indiana pages Mike sends buyers to most: IHCDA for program rules, the state financial regulator, USDA's address tool, FHFA loan limits, and your county auditor and recorder for the Sales Disclosure Form and recording fees.
Where do the official Indiana links live?
Everything on the network's guide pages traces back to a primary source. Here is the short list, with what each one settles. Bookmark the two you will use most: IHCDA for anything program-related and USDA for anything location-related.
| Resource | What it settles | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| IHCDA | Program rules, county price and income limits | in.gov/ihcda |
| Indiana Dept. of Financial Institutions (DFI) | Lender licensing, consumer complaints | in.gov/dfi |
| NMLS Consumer Access | Verify a loan officer or company | nmlsconsumeraccess.org |
| USDA eligibility map | Address and income eligibility | USDA eligibility tool |
| FHFA | 2026 conforming loan limits | fhfa.gov |
| County Auditor & Recorder | Sales Disclosure Form, recording fees | Your county office |
Where can I read IHCDA's official program rules?
IHCDA, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, is the state body behind First Step, Next Home, Step Down, and the Next Step refinance. Each program has its own page at in.gov/ihcda, and the county price and income limits sit in the program guide. When a number here and a number on IHCDA disagree, IHCDA is right. Check the effective date too, since the limits get updated during the year rather than on a fixed annual calendar.
Who regulates Indiana mortgage lenders?
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, the DFI, licenses lenders and loan originators under the Indiana First Lien Mortgage Lending Act, administered by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions and handles consumer complaints at in.gov/dfi. It is the office to call if something feels off about a company you are working with. For a quick identity check, look the person up on NMLS Consumer Access by name or license number. Mike Certo is NMLS #260555 and Cornerstone First Mortgage is NMLS #173855.
How do I check whether an address is USDA-eligible?
USDA keeps a free map at eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov. Type in the exact street address and it tells you whether that spot falls in an eligible rural area. Run it early, because eligibility is address-specific, not county-wide, and a home just outside Fort Wayne or South Bend can flip from ineligible to eligible within a mile. The same tool checks the income cap, near $122,800 for one to four people as of 2026.
Where are the 2026 Indiana loan limits published?
The Federal Housing Finance Agency sets conforming loan limits each year, posted at fhfa.gov. For 2026 the one-unit baseline is $832,750, and it holds in all 92 Indiana counties because the state has no high-cost designation. A loan above that number is a jumbo. The FHA floor is $541,287 statewide. The programs page covers how jumbo underwriting differs.
Does Indiana charge a state transfer tax?
No. Indiana is one of the states with no real estate transfer, deed, or documentary-stamp tax at all. What you do pay at closing is a Sales Disclosure Form fee of $10 to the county auditor under Indiana Code 6-1.1-5.5, plus flat county recording fees of roughly $25 per document. Marion County, home to Indianapolis, adds a $20 sales disclosure charge per parcel on top of the $10. The auditor and the recorder are separate county offices, so confirm both sets of fees with them. The closing-cost page shows the county-by-county detail.
Do I need a homebuyer education course in Indiana?
For most IHCDA loans, yes. The agency asks buyers using its assistance to complete homebuyer education, usually online or through an approved counseling agency. The class walks through budgeting, the closing process, and staying current after you move in. Even where it is not required, it is worth a few hours of your time for a first purchase. Ask Mike which approved provider lines up with your program, so the certificate counts.
Indiana resources FAQ
Where can I read IHCDA's official program rules?
IHCDA, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, publishes each program at in.gov/ihcda, including First Step, Next Home, Step Down, and the Next Step refinance. County price and income limits sit in its program guide and update through the year. Those pages are the source of record, so when a figure here and IHCDA disagree, treat IHCDA as correct and check the effective date.
Who regulates Indiana mortgage lenders?
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, the DFI, licenses and oversees mortgage lenders and originators under the Indiana First Lien Mortgage Lending Act, and it takes consumer complaints at in.gov/dfi. Every originator also appears on the national NMLS Consumer Access site by license number, the quickest way to confirm a loan officer is licensed. Mike Certo is NMLS #260555; Cornerstone First Mortgage is NMLS #173855.
How do I confirm an Indiana address qualifies for USDA?
USDA runs a free eligibility map at eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov. Enter the exact property address and it returns whether the spot sits in an eligible rural area. Do this before you write an offer, because eligibility is address-specific rather than county-wide, and the Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, and Lake County urban areas are excluded. The same tool checks the household income cap, near $122,800 for one to four people as of 2026.
Does Indiana charge a state transfer tax?
No. Indiana levies no state real estate transfer, deed, or documentary-stamp tax. Instead you file a Sales Disclosure Form with the county auditor for a $10 fee, plus flat county recording fees of roughly $25 per document. Marion County adds a $20 sales disclosure charge per parcel on top of the $10. Confirm the exact fees with your county auditor and recorder, since local charges vary.
Do I need a homebuyer education course in Indiana?
For most IHCDA loans, yes. The agency asks buyers using its assistance to complete homebuyer education, usually online or through an approved counseling agency. The course covers budgeting, the closing process, and staying current after you move in. It is genuinely useful for a first purchase, so ask Mike which approved provider fits your program.