Earlier today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced they would be increasing the conforming loan limits for all California counties in 2023. This means borrowers will have a higher financing range to work with, without having to use a…
We've written a lot about the VA home loan program in the past. As a mortgage company that specializes in VA loans, we enjoy educating homebuyers and borrowers about the many benefits it can provide. Today, we will summarize some…
California has a significant military population and is home to dozens of military bases. So while the following statistic is noteworthy, it probably won't come as a surprise. A recent report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs showed that…
Home prices across the San Francisco Bay area have risen steadily over the past year. As a result, we will see higher loan limits for all counties in 2023. In fact, the maximum amount for a conforming mortgage loan in…
Note: This article was originally published in 2022 but was fully updated in 2024 to reflect current guidelines and requirements. In California, many home buyers rely on the FHA loan program to finance their purchases. First-time buyers in particular are…
VA loan home buyers in California and nationwide can now choose to pay for their termite / pest inspections. This is a change from previous VA policy, which prevented buyers from paying for certain inspections. This policy adjustment could benefit…
The home appraisal is an important part of the VA loan process in California. It allows mortgage lenders to assess the current market value of the property being purchased, based on input from an approved home appraiser. Now, it seems…
In a previous article, we addressed the misconception that VA loans require a down payment. (The short version is that they don't.) Today, we'll focus on another common misconception about VA loans in California -- mortgage insurance. Here's the most…
A survey showed that many military members in California and nationwide believe that VA home loans take longer to process than conventional mortgages. But that's not always the case. In fact, mortgage industry data show there's only a minor difference…
This is the latest in a series of articles designed to educate California home buyers on the FHA loan program. In previous articles, we looked at the basic document requirements for this program and the minimum down payment. Today, we…
