Mortgage broker serving El Cerrito, 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 El Cerrito buyers, we match your unique situation to the right program.
In El Cerrito's market, the right loan program can save thousands over the life of your mortgage.
We've spent 40+ years solving these exact challenges.
We're here to help match you with the perfect loan program for your El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito home. We coordinate everything to make closing day smooth and stress-free.
Finding the right home loan in El Cerrito starts with understanding your options. We've streamlined hundreds of mortgage programs into 8 clear categories for El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito 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
Standard option for El Cerrito buyers. Most homes under $1.25M with competitive rates.
Strong FHA option in El Cerrito. Low down payment gets you into most properties here.
$0 down for El Cerrito veterans. VA loans cover all properties with no PMI required.
El Cerrito business owners qualify on deposits. Tax write-offs reduce income on paper. Bank statements show reality.
CalHFA programs popular in El Cerrito. State assistance helps with down payment and closing costs.
Premium El Cerrito homes over $1.25M require jumbo loans. Less common but available for luxury properties.
El Cerrito sellers can buy first with bridge loans. Short-term financing until sale closes.
LLC financing options for El Cerrito investors. Buy rentals in entity names.
Conforming refinance for El Cerrito homeowners. Best rates for loans under $1.25M.
FHA streamline refinance for El Cerrito. Easiest way to lower your existing FHA rate.
VA streamline refi for El Cerrito veterans. Fastest way to reduce your mortgage payment.
Turn El Cerrito home equity into cash. Refinance at competitive rates for home improvements or debt.
HELOC available for El Cerrito homeowners. Access equity without replacing first mortgage.
El Cerrito owners can get home equity loans. Fixed rate for predictable payments.
DSCR loans work for El Cerrito investment properties. Cash flow analysis replaces income docs.
Fix-and-flip available for El Cerrito projects. Short-term financing for value-add investments.
Multifamily options for El Cerrito investors. Finance apartment buildings with commercial loans.
El Cerrito investors use hard money for quick closes. Higher rate but fast funding.
Buy a home with zero down payment. Our lenders cover your entire down payment through grant programs. No repayment required. Available for El Cerrito buyers with qualifying income.
CalHFA programs popular in El Cerrito. State assistance helps with down payment and closing costs.
El Cerrito has local down payment programs. Combine with CalHFA for maximum assistance.
Elite grant available for El Cerrito buyers. Down payment assistance with no repayment.
El Cerrito family sales can use gift of equity. Equity difference becomes down payment.
Add a co-borrower for El Cerrito purchases. Family member income boosts qualification.
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
El Cerrito sits right on the Contra Costa-Alameda county line, wedged between Berkeley and Richmond in the East Bay. Population is 26,409, median household income $127,475. The homeownership rate here is 57.3%, which is actually pretty good for the Bay Area where renting dominates. At $805,500 median home price, this is what affordable looks like in the Bay Area now. You're paying for BART access and a 16-minute commute to Oakland, 26 minutes to San Francisco. That proximity is exactly why prices hold steady here even when the market gets choppy.
The school ratings matter when you're dropping $800K on a house and planning to stay a while. Madera Elementary pulls an 8, which is solid for the Bay Area and a big reason the Madera neighborhood commands $750K-$950K. El Cerrito High and Korematsu Middle both rate 7, which won't wow anyone but they're stable and functional. Here's the thing about Bay Area schools: a 7 or 8 rating here often means better funding and resources than a 9 in other parts of California, just because the tax base is stronger. Families who buy here tend to stay through high school, which tells you something about satisfaction levels and helps your resale value when it's time to move up.
Where you buy in El Cerrito affects both your mortgage size and your lifestyle. El Cerrito Hills runs $900K-$1.4M for those mid-century modern homes with Bay views, and you'll need a jumbo loan for most properties up there since conforming limits top out around $1.15M in the Bay Area. Madera is the family sweet spot at $750K-$950K, tree-lined streets near the good elementary school, and conventional loans work fine for most buyers with 10-20% down. Canyon Trail offers ranch-style homes at $800K-$1.1M with hiking access, popular with buyers who want suburban quiet but don't want to give up BART access. Del Norte BART District is your entry point at $650K-$900K, mix of condos and townhomes where FHA and conventional loans both see action, especially with first-time buyers who prioritize the commute over square footage.
The BART access is the whole ballgame here. Two stations, El Cerrito del Norte and El Cerrito Plaza, put you in downtown San Francisco in 26 minutes, Oakland in 16. That's why a household earning $127K can justify an $805K mortgage when the same money would buy you a mansion in Fresno. I-80 runs right through town connecting you to the wider Bay Area, and I-580 gets you to the South Bay when you need it. AC Transit fills in the gaps for local trips. If you're commuting to a tech job in San Francisco or Oakland, you can actually pull this off without a car, which saves you $500-700 monthly that can go toward your mortgage payment instead.
West Contra Costa Unified School District is the biggest employer, which means steady public sector jobs with solid benefits and predictable income for mortgage qualification. Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center pulls in healthcare workers who tend to be stable borrowers. UC Berkeley sits right next door and employs thousands, many of whom end up buying in El Cerrito because Berkeley itself is even pricier. The City of El Cerrito, Whole Foods, and Target add local employment, but real talk, most people who buy here commute to San Francisco, Oakland, or one of the big tech campuses. The job market is really the entire Bay Area job market, and that diversity is what keeps property values stable even when one sector takes a hit.
Common questions from El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito: Conventional (3% down), FHA (3.5% down), VA (0% for veterans), and our 6-Month Forgivable Grant Program covering your entire down payment. Many El Cerrito buyers purchase with 3.5% or less down.
Our No Money Down program offers $0 down payment for qualified El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito families purchase with minimal upfront cash.
2026 Contra Costa County limits: FHA $1,249,125, Conventional $1,249,125. Any loan above $1,249,125 is a jumbo loan. Most El Cerrito properties fall within conforming limits, maximizing your financing options.
For El Cerrito'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 El Cerrito. 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 El Cerrito. We guide you through the entire process, help you understand FHA vs conventional vs VA options, identify all available down payment assistance in Contra Costa County, and structure your purchase to minimize upfront costs.
You still have options in El Cerrito. 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 Contra Costa County expertise, same-day underwriting decisions, and flexibility to solve complex situations that algorithm-based lenders decline.
Closing costs in El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito: Conventional (3% down), FHA (3.5% down), VA (0% for veterans), and our 6-Month Forgivable Grant Program covering your entire down payment. Many El Cerrito buyers purchase with 3.5% or less down.
A denial doesn't mean you can't buy in El Cerrito. 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 Contra Costa County expertise, same-day underwriting decisions, and flexibility to solve complex situations that algorithm-based lenders decline.
Closing costs in El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito 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 Contra Costa County limits: FHA $1,249,125, Conventional $1,249,125. Any loan above $1,249,125 is a jumbo loan. Most El Cerrito properties fall within conforming limits, maximizing your financing options.
Our No Money Down program offers $0 down payment for qualified El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito families purchase with minimal upfront cash.
Absolutely—first-time buyers are our specialty in El Cerrito. We guide you through the entire process, help you understand FHA vs conventional vs VA options, identify all available down payment assistance in Contra Costa County, and structure your purchase to minimize upfront costs.
You still have options in El Cerrito. 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 El Cerrito'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 2026 FHA loan limit for El Cerrito (Contra Costa County) is $1.25M for a single-family home. This is a moderate-cost area limit. Properties above this amount require jumbo financing. FHA loans allow down payments as low as 3.5% for qualified borrowers.
With El Cerrito's median home price at $806K, many properties are near or above the $1.25M conforming limit. Higher-priced homes will require jumbo financing.
The 2026 Contra Costa County loan limits are: FHA: $1.25M, VA: $1.25M, Conventional: $1.25M. Any loan amount above $1.25M is considered a jumbo loan.
Yes! Veterans and active military can use VA loans in El Cerrito with $0 down payment. The 2026 VA loan limit for Contra Costa County is $1.25M. For properties above this amount, you can still use a VA loan but will need a down payment on the amount exceeding the limit.
We provide same-day pre-approvals for most loan programs. Full loan approval and closing typically takes 21-30 days for conventional and jumbo loans, and 30-45 days for FHA and VA loans.
Down payment requirements vary by loan type: Conventional: 3-20%, FHA: 3.5%, VA: $0 for eligible veterans, Jumbo: typically 10-20%. For El Cerrito's median price of $806K, typical down payments range from 5-10%.
Minimum credit scores vary by loan type: FHA: 580, Conventional: 620, VA: typically 620, Jumbo: 680-700+. Higher credit scores qualify for better interest rates.
Look for a lender with California experience, strong communication, competitive rates, and the ability to close on time. We've been serving California homebuyers for 40+ years with senior loan officers who specialize in complex scenarios.
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