When buying a home in California, or even when simply researching the process, you'll eventually encounter the term "escrow account." This can be a very confusing subject for first-time buyers, in particular, since they've never been through the process before.…
Self-employment offers a lot of freedom and flexibility. But it can also pose some unique challenges when it comes to qualifying for a mortgage loan in California. Without a traditional W-2 type of income, self-employed borrowers can have a harder…
"Do I need to obtain a home insurance policy to qualify for a mortgage loan in California? And if so, what type of insurance coverage do I need?" These are common questions among first-time home buyers in the Golden State.…
Bank statement loans have become increasingly popular in California, partly due to a rise in the number of self-employed and "gig economy" workers. While they're not limited to self-employed home buyers, bank statement loans tend to work well for this…
Home prices in California's major cities have risen steadily over the last few years. As a result, a lot of home buyers in the state are looking for ways to lower their down payments. One way to accomplish this is…
As a California-based mortgage company, we do our best to educate home buyers about real estate market trends and conditions that might affect them. We leave no stone unturned in these efforts. This guide covers some of the most important…
Countless articles have been written about the different steps to buying a house. In fact, we've written one ourselves. But today, we will focus on the first few steps to buying your first home in California. First Steps to Buying…
As of early 2025, the Bay Area real estate market is one of the most competitive housing markets in the country. Because of this, many home buyers in the area choose to waive their contract contingencies when making a purchase…
Home buyers tend to have a lot of questions about the mortgage underwriting process in California. That's partly because this process happens without their direct involvement, for the most part. But what is underwriting? What does the underwriter do? How…
This article is part of an ongoing series that explains the VA loan process in California. Today, we will cover some of the standard paperwork and documents that are required for VA home loans in California. Here are the six…
