Mortgage broker serving Bell, CA, offering a full range of loan programs - purchases, refinancing, investment properties, FHA, VA, jumbo, DSCR, bank statement loans, down payment assistance, and more. Personalized programs for your unique situation. 40+ years California mortgage experience.
Schedule a quick 15-minute call and we'll match you to the right program and give you the best rate for your unique situation.
We as brokers shop hundreds of lenders for you. Banks offer their own limited products.
As mortgage specialists serving Bell buyers, we match your unique situation to the right program.
Bell buyers compete in a market where strong financing and quick pre-approval win offers.
We've spent 40+ years solving these exact challenges.
We're here to help match you with the perfect loan program for your Bell purchase.
SCHEDULE FREE CONSULTATION"For over 30 years, A Good Lender has been a trusted and essential part of my family's financial journey, guiding us through more than a dozen mortgage financing transactions with professionalism, integrity and care. What sets A Good Lender apart is their reliability and ability to demystify the mortgage process."
"Rodney Roloff & The Team at A Good Lender made my house buying process a breeze. Rodney helped me to better understand the loan process and walked me through everything step by step. If your looking for a good lender. One who will help you get the best rate. I highly recommend reaching out to Rodney and his team at 'A good lender'"
"From our first home buying experience, to exploring HELOC options, and refinancing, every step we were supported with clear and accurate information. A team who's knowledgeable, prompt to respond to any questions, and who genuinely cares for their clients is a rare find in this industry."
We've simplified the mortgage maze into four clear steps. No surprises, just results.
Complete your loan application online and upload your documents. We'll review everything to make sure it's complete before submitting to our lending partners.
We submit your application to our lending partners. Their underwriters review your documents, verify your income and credit, and issue your loan approval.
Sign your final documents, get your keys, and move into your Bell home. We coordinate everything to make closing day smooth and stress-free.
Finding the right home loan in Bell starts with understanding your options. We've streamlined hundreds of mortgage programs into 8 clear categories for Bell home buyers—covering purchase loans, refinance, commercial real estate, and specialized financing like bank statement and jumbo loans. Explore the general programs to compare down payment options and requirements, or apply now for a custom financing solution tailored to your Bell property.
Whether you're buying your first condo or a $3M estate, we offer comprehensive financing solutions with 14-day closings. Explore our complete range of purchase loan programs below.
Refinance to lower your interest rate, shorten your loan term, or access home equity for renovations, debt consolidation, or investment opportunities. Explore all refinance programs below.
Finance commercial real estate, owner-occupied buildings, or business expansions. Explore all commercial financing programs below.
Finance new construction, renovations, or land purchases. Explore all construction and renovation programs below.
From condos and townhomes to multi-family buildings and unique property types. Explore all specialized property financing programs below.
We specialize in complex financing scenarios where traditional loans don't fit. Explore all niche programs below.
Access California's down payment assistance programs. Explore all DPA programs below.
Self-employed professionals, freelancers, and business owners. Explore all special income documentation programs below.
Speed & Certainty
Whether you're buying your first condo or a $3M estate, we offer comprehensive financing solutions with 14-day closings. Explore our complete range of purchase loan programs below.
Rate & Term, Cash-Out
Refinance to lower your interest rate, shorten your loan term, or access home equity for renovations, debt consolidation, or investment opportunities. Explore all refinance programs below.
SBA 504 & 7(a)
Finance commercial real estate, owner-occupied buildings, or business expansions. Explore all commercial financing programs below.
Build & Improve
Finance new construction, renovations, or land purchases. Explore all construction and renovation programs below.
Specialized Properties
From condos and townhomes to multi-family buildings and unique property types. Explore all specialized property financing programs below.
Complex Scenarios
We specialize in complex financing scenarios where traditional loans don't fit. Explore all niche programs below.
CalHFA & Local DPA
Access California's down payment assistance programs. Explore all DPA programs below.
Alternative Documentation
Self-employed professionals, freelancers, and business owners. Explore all special income documentation programs below.
Popular loan programs for Bell homebuyers. Compare options and find your best fit.
| Loan Type | Down Payment | Credit Score | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Down Payment Program Featured | $0 (3.5% grant) | 580+ | Any buyer - grant covers FHA or Conventional down payment, forgiven after 6 payments |
| Conventional | 3-20% | 620+ | Good credit, stable income. Max: $1,249,125 |
| FHA | 3.5% minimum | 580+ | First-time buyers with limited savings |
| VA | $0 | No minimum | Veterans, active military, surviving spouses |
| Jumbo | 15-20% | 680+ | Properties exceeding $1,249,125 |
| Bank Statement | 10-20% | 660+ | Self-employed buyers who write off business expenses |
| DSCR | 20-25% | 660+ | Rental income properties, real estate investors |
| Reverse Mortgage | N/A | No minimum | Homeowners 62+ tapping equity without payments |
Questions? Call (510) 589-4096 or email info@agoodlender.com
Most Bell homes qualify for conforming loans under $1.25M. Best rates with 3-20% down.
Veterans buy in Bell with nothing down. VA loans up to $1.25M with no mortgage insurance.
FHA loans popular for Bell first-timers. 3.5% down, 580 credit minimum.
Higher-end Bell properties may exceed $1.25M. Jumbo financing available when needed.
Bank statement loans work for Bell's self-employed buyers. 12-24 months of deposits qualify you.
CalHFA MyHome provides up to 3.5% down payment assistance for Bell buyers.
Bridge loans help Bell buyers compete. Make non-contingent offers while selling current home.
Bell investment properties in LLC. Entity financing available for investors.
Most Bell mortgages qualify for conforming refinance. Lower your rate under the limit.
Bell homeowners tap equity with cash-out refinance. Consolidate debt or fund renovations.
Veterans in Bell refinance with VA IRRRL. No appraisal, no income verification.
Bell HELOC options for home equity access. Credit line with variable rate draw period.
Bell FHA borrowers can streamline refinance. No income verification or appraisal required.
Home equity loan option for Bell. Fixed payments unlike variable HELOC.
Bell rental investors use DSCR loans. Property income determines qualification, not W-2s.
Renovation investors in Bell use fix-and-flip financing. Purchase plus rehab in one loan.
Bell apartment financing available. Multifamily loans for 5+ unit buildings.
Commercial hard money in Bell. Speed and flexibility for investment deals.
Buy a home with zero down payment. Our lenders cover your entire down payment through grant programs. No repayment required. Available for Bell buyers with qualifying income.
CalHFA MyHome provides up to 3.5% down payment assistance for Bell buyers.
Local Bell DPA programs supplement state assistance. City grants reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Bell buyers check Elite grant eligibility. Grant funds reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Gift of equity option for Bell family purchases. Parents selling to children at discount.
Bell buyers use non-occupant co-borrowers. Parents help children qualify for homes.
Every situation is unique. The right loan program depends on your unique situation. See what works best for you.
Questions? Call (510) 589-4096 or email info@agoodlender.com
Bell sits in southeast LA County, just 7 miles from downtown. Population is 33,377, median household income $56,685. The homeownership rate here is 28%, which tells you everything about the market - this is a city where most people rent because buying is tough. At $987,500 median home price, you're looking at one of the paradoxes of LA real estate: working-class incomes meeting million-dollar price tags. If you can qualify, though, you're 20 minutes from downtown LA with property values that hold steady because inventory is tight and demand never stops.
Bell High School pulls a 6 rating, Corona Avenue Elementary a 6, Bell Gardens Intermediate a 5. These aren't trophy scores, but here's what matters for buyers: the schools are stable and the district serves a community where families put down roots when they can afford to buy. If you're stretching to qualify for a mortgage here, you're betting on location over school rankings. The trade-off is proximity to LA job centers and the long-term equity game in a landlocked city where they're not making more land. Resale value in Bell isn't about test scores, it's about being inside the LA basin where prices keep climbing.
Where you buy in Bell determines whether you can even get a loan approved on your income. Southern Bell near the Cudahy border runs $750K-$950K, the most accessible entry point for first-time buyers, and FHA loans with 3.5% down are common here if you can handle the payment on a $700K+ mortgage. Central Bell goes $850K-$1.1M with tree-lined streets and mixed housing, you'll need conventional financing and solid income documentation. Eastern Bell hits $900K-$1.2M for mid-century single-family homes, better condition means higher appraisals and easier conventional loan approval. Western Bell near the LA River runs $800K-$1M with condos and townhomes, HOA fees affect your debt-to-income ratio so factor that into what you can qualify for. The whole city is small, just 2.5 square miles, so you're never far from anything.
The commute to downtown LA is 20 minutes, Long Beach 23 minutes, Santa Monica 35 minutes, Irvine 45 minutes. That proximity is why Bell costs what it costs. You're not paying for the biggest house or the best schools, you're paying for drive time. If you work in downtown LA or anywhere in the central basin, you're saving 10-20 hours a week compared to Inland Empire commuters. That time has value, and it's baked into every mortgage payment here. Local transit connects you to the Metro system, which matters if you're trying to be a one-car household to afford the mortgage.
Los Angeles County is the biggest employer, followed by the school districts and Kaiser Permanente Bell. Farmer John's Hormel Foods plant has been here forever, providing blue-collar jobs with benefits. Southern California Edison employs locally too. The job mix is public sector, healthcare, education, and food production. Most Bell residents work somewhere else in LA County, which is the whole point of living here. You're in the economic engine of Southern California without paying Pasadena or Culver City prices. The challenge is that local wages don't match local home prices, so most buyers need two incomes or help with the down payment to make the numbers work.
Common questions from Bell homebuyers and refinance clients. Can't find your answer? Book a 15-minute call with a Senior Loan Officer.
Pre-approval typically takes 24-72 hours. Full underwriting approval takes 14-21 days. We work with lenders offering express underwriting for strong borrowers who need faster closings.
Standard documents needed: pay stubs (last 30 days), W-2s (past 2 years), tax returns (past 2 years), bank statements (past 2 months), and photo ID. Self-employed borrowers need business tax returns and P&L statements. We'll provide a complete checklist for your situation.
Typical Bell closing timeline: 30-45 days from accepted offer. VA/FHA loans may take slightly longer. Cash buyers close in 7-14 days. We work to meet your timeline and coordinate with all parties to close on schedule.
You have several low down payment options in Bell: Conventional (3% down), FHA (3.5% down), VA (0% for veterans), and our 6-Month Forgivable Grant Program covering your entire down payment. Many Bell buyers purchase with 3.5% or less down.
Our No Money Down program offers $0 down payment for qualified Bell buyers. We also offer our 6-Month Forgivable Grant (covers 3-3.5% down, forgiven after 6 months), CalHFA programs, and local first-time buyer assistance. Unlike CalHFA's 5-year requirements, our programs have no income limits and no first-time buyer requirement.
Yes! Zero-down options for Bell buyers include: VA loans (eligible veterans), USDA loans (eligible rural areas), and our 6-Month Forgivable Grant Program combined with seller concessions for closing costs. Many Bell families purchase with minimal upfront cash.
2026 Los Angeles County limits: FHA $1,249,125, Conventional $1,249,125. Any loan above $1,249,125 is a jumbo loan. Most Bell properties fall within conforming limits, maximizing your financing options.
For Bell's $500,000 median price: FHA is better for credit scores under 680 or down payments under 5%—it's more forgiving on DTI ratios too. Conventional is better with 5%+ down and 700+ credit (lower PMI costs). We compare both options for your specific situation.
A denial doesn't mean you can't buy in Bell. We review your denial letter, identify the specific issues (credit, DTI, income documentation), and match you with lenders who have more flexible guidelines. Common solutions include FHA loans for credit flexibility, alternative documentation, or co-borrower structures.
Credit requirements by loan type: FHA accepts 580+ (or 500 with 10% down), conventional starts at 620, VA at 620+. Our zero-down grant program works with 640+. Higher scores (720+) get better rates, but we work with borrowers across the credit spectrum.
Absolutely—first-time buyers are our specialty in Bell. We guide you through the entire process, help you understand FHA vs conventional vs VA options, identify all available down payment assistance in Los Angeles County, and structure your purchase to minimize upfront costs.
You still have options in Bell. FHA loans accept credit scores as low as 580 (or 500 with 10% down). We also offer credit improvement strategies and can connect you with rapid rescoring services to boost your score before applying. Many buyers improve 20-50 points within 30 days.
As a mortgage broker, we shop your scenario across 50+ wholesale lenders to find the best pricing. Unlike retail banks that only offer their own rates, we show you side-by-side comparisons with identical terms. No junk fees or hidden charges—just transparent pricing.
You work directly with a Senior Loan Officer (15+ years average experience) from application through closing—not a call center. We have local Los Angeles County expertise, same-day underwriting decisions, and flexibility to solve complex situations that algorithm-based lenders decline.
Closing costs in Bell typically run 2-4% of the purchase price. On a $500,000 home, expect $10,000-$20,000 covering appraisal, title insurance, escrow fees, and prepaids. FHA allows sellers to contribute up to 6% toward your closing costs.
Pre-approval typically takes 24-72 hours. Full underwriting approval takes 14-21 days. We work with lenders offering express underwriting for strong borrowers who need faster closings.
You have several low down payment options in Bell: Conventional (3% down), FHA (3.5% down), VA (0% for veterans), and our 6-Month Forgivable Grant Program covering your entire down payment. Many Bell buyers purchase with 3.5% or less down.
A denial doesn't mean you can't buy in Bell. We review your denial letter, identify the specific issues (credit, DTI, income documentation), and match you with lenders who have more flexible guidelines. Common solutions include FHA loans for credit flexibility, alternative documentation, or co-borrower structures.
As a mortgage broker, we shop your scenario across 50+ wholesale lenders to find the best pricing. Unlike retail banks that only offer their own rates, we show you side-by-side comparisons with identical terms. No junk fees or hidden charges—just transparent pricing.
You work directly with a Senior Loan Officer (15+ years average experience) from application through closing—not a call center. We have local Los Angeles County expertise, same-day underwriting decisions, and flexibility to solve complex situations that algorithm-based lenders decline.
Closing costs in Bell typically run 2-4% of the purchase price. On a $500,000 home, expect $10,000-$20,000 covering appraisal, title insurance, escrow fees, and prepaids. FHA allows sellers to contribute up to 6% toward your closing costs.
Standard documents needed: pay stubs (last 30 days), W-2s (past 2 years), tax returns (past 2 years), bank statements (past 2 months), and photo ID. Self-employed borrowers need business tax returns and P&L statements. We'll provide a complete checklist for your situation.
Typical Bell closing timeline: 30-45 days from accepted offer. VA/FHA loans may take slightly longer. Cash buyers close in 7-14 days. We work to meet your timeline and coordinate with all parties to close on schedule.
Credit requirements by loan type: FHA accepts 580+ (or 500 with 10% down), conventional starts at 620, VA at 620+. Our zero-down grant program works with 640+. Higher scores (720+) get better rates, but we work with borrowers across the credit spectrum.
2026 Los Angeles County limits: FHA $1,249,125, Conventional $1,249,125. Any loan above $1,249,125 is a jumbo loan. Most Bell properties fall within conforming limits, maximizing your financing options.
Our No Money Down program offers $0 down payment for qualified Bell buyers. We also offer our 6-Month Forgivable Grant (covers 3-3.5% down, forgiven after 6 months), CalHFA programs, and local first-time buyer assistance. Unlike CalHFA's 5-year requirements, our programs have no income limits and no first-time buyer requirement.
Yes! Zero-down options for Bell buyers include: VA loans (eligible veterans), USDA loans (eligible rural areas), and our 6-Month Forgivable Grant Program combined with seller concessions for closing costs. Many Bell families purchase with minimal upfront cash.
Absolutely—first-time buyers are our specialty in Bell. We guide you through the entire process, help you understand FHA vs conventional vs VA options, identify all available down payment assistance in Los Angeles County, and structure your purchase to minimize upfront costs.
You still have options in Bell. FHA loans accept credit scores as low as 580 (or 500 with 10% down). We also offer credit improvement strategies and can connect you with rapid rescoring services to boost your score before applying. Many buyers improve 20-50 points within 30 days.
For Bell's $500,000 median price: FHA is better for credit scores under 680 or down payments under 5%—it's more forgiving on DTI ratios too. Conventional is better with 5%+ down and 700+ credit (lower PMI costs). We compare both options for your specific situation.
The FHA loan limit in Bell is $1,250,000 for 2025, which covers most homes in this market where the median price is around $988K. This higher limit makes FHA financing accessible for many buyers in Los Angeles County. You'll need a minimum 3.5% down payment and a credit score of at least 580 to qualify.
Most homes in Bell don't require a jumbo loan since the median price is $988K and the conforming loan limit is $1,250,000. You'll only need jumbo financing if you're buying a home priced above $1.25M, which represents the higher end of Bell's market. For homes under that threshold, you can take advantage of better rates and terms with conventional conforming loans.
For 2025, Los Angeles County loan limits are $1,250,000 for conforming, FHA, and VA loans, covering single. family homes. These limits apply throughout the county including Bell and are significantly higher than the national baseline due to the area's housing costs. The 2026 limits typically get announced in November 2025 and usually adjust based on home price trends.
Yes, you can absolutely use a VA loan in Bell with a loan limit of $1,250,000 and no down payment required for eligible veterans and service members. Since Bell's median home price is $988K, most properties fall well within the VA limit. VA loans offer competitive rates and don't require mortgage insurance, making them an excellent option if you qualify.
Our No Money Down program offers $0 down payment for qualified buyers, making homeownership more accessible in Bell's competitive market. CalHFA programs provide down payment and closing cost assistance with options like the MyHome Assistance Program offering deferred. payment junior loans. Los Angeles County also offers various first. time homebuyer programs, though with Bell's median income of $56,685 and home prices around $988K, qualifying can be challenging without creative financing solutions.
Down payment requirements in Bell vary by loan type: conventional loans typically need 3% to 20% ($29,640 to $197,600 on a $988K home), FHA requires 3.5% ($34,580), and VA or USDA loans offer $0 down for eligible buyers. With our No Money Down program, qualified buyers can purchase without any down payment. Keep in mind that putting down less than 20% on conventional loans means you'll pay mortgage insurance until you reach 20% equity.
Most lenders require a minimum credit score of 620 for conventional loans in Bell, though you'll get better rates with scores above 700. FHA loans accept scores as low as 580 with 3.5% down, or 500 with 10% down. Given Bell's median home price of $988K, having a strong credit score in the 680+ range will help you secure favorable terms and lower interest rates on these larger loan amounts.
Look for a lender experienced with Bell's upper. middle market who can handle loan amounts near $1M and explain options like conforming versus jumbo financing. Compare rates, fees, and loan programs from multiple lenders, and ask about their average closing times and customer reviews. The right lender should understand Los Angeles County's competitive market, offer various loan products including down payment assistance, and provide clear communication throughout the process.
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