Licensed California mortgage broker with loan programs specialized to your unique situation. Purchase loans, refinancing, FHA, VA, jumbo, commercial, construction, down payment assistance, and more across every San Diego community.
Schedule a quick 15-minute call and we'll match you to the right program for your San Diego County purchase.
We as brokers shop hundreds of lenders for you. Banks offer their own limited products.
As mortgage specialists serving San Diego County buyers across 18 cities, we match your unique situation to the right program.
San Diego County buyers navigate varied price points across 18 diverse cities.
We've spent 40+ years solving these exact challenges.
We're here to help match you with the perfect loan program for your San Diego County 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 San Diego County home. We coordinate everything to make closing day smooth and stress-free.
Finding the right home loan in San Diego County starts with understanding your options. We've streamlined hundreds of mortgage programs into 8 clear categories for San Diego County 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 San Diego County 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.
| Loan Type | 1-Unit | 2-Unit | 3-Unit | 4-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | $1,006,250 $1.01M | $1,288,000 $1.29M | $1,556,669 $1.56M | $1,935,019 $1.94M |
| FHA | $1,006,250 $1.01M | $1,288,000 $1.29M | $1,556,669 $1.56M | $1,935,019 $1.94M |
Limits effective January 1, 2026. VA loans have no county limit for qualified veterans.
Calculate your monthly payment, affordability, and closing costs with San Diego County-specific property tax rates and loan limits. Get accurate estimates before you start shopping.
Common questions from San Diego County 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 San Diego County 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.
Down payments in San Diego County vary by loan type: Conventional (3-5% minimum), FHA (3.5%), VA (0% for veterans). With $875K median pricing, most buyers put 5-20% down depending on whether they're avoiding PMI or maximizing cash reserves.
PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) is required on conventional loans with less than 20% down, costing 0.5-1% of your loan annually. Ways to avoid: put 20% down, use an 80-10-10 piggyback loan, or choose lender-paid PMI. PMI automatically drops once you reach 20% equity.
2026 San Diego County limits: FHA $1,006,250, Conventional $1,006,250. Any loan above $1,006,250 is a jumbo loan. Most San Diego County properties fall within conforming limits, maximizing your financing options.
With San Diego County's $875K median price and $1,006,250 San Diego County limit, many properties fall right at the threshold. Homes under $1,006,250 use conforming loans (better rates, easier qualification). Above that requires jumbo financing. We analyze your target price range to recommend the best approach.
A denial doesn't mean you can't buy in San Diego County. 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.
Yes. We offer multiple documentation paths for self-employed San Diego County borrowers: bank statement loans (12-24 months deposits), P&L-only programs, and traditional tax return qualification. Our loan officers specialize in complex income situations.
Yes, first-time buyers represent about 35% of our San Diego County transactions. We help you navigate loan options, explain the differences between FHA, conventional, and VA programs, and identify down payment assistance available in San Diego County.
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 San Diego County expertise, same-day underwriting decisions, and flexibility to solve complex situations that algorithm-based lenders decline.
Closing costs in San Diego County typically run 2-4% of the purchase price. On a $875K 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.
Rate buydowns (paying points upfront for a lower rate) make sense if you'll keep the loan 5+ years. Each point (1% of loan amount) typically reduces your rate by 0.25%. We calculate your break-even point and whether buying down makes financial sense for your San Diego County purchase.
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.
Down payments in San Diego County vary by loan type: Conventional (3-5% minimum), FHA (3.5%), VA (0% for veterans). With $875K median pricing, most buyers put 5-20% down depending on whether they're avoiding PMI or maximizing cash reserves.
A denial doesn't mean you can't buy in San Diego County. 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 San Diego County expertise, same-day underwriting decisions, and flexibility to solve complex situations that algorithm-based lenders decline.
Closing costs in San Diego County typically run 2-4% of the purchase price. On a $875K 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 San Diego County 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 San Diego County limits: FHA $1,006,250, Conventional $1,006,250. Any loan above $1,006,250 is a jumbo loan. Most San Diego County properties fall within conforming limits, maximizing your financing options.
With San Diego County's $875K median price and $1,006,250 San Diego County limit, many properties fall right at the threshold. Homes under $1,006,250 use conforming loans (better rates, easier qualification). Above that requires jumbo financing. We analyze your target price range to recommend the best approach.
Yes. We offer multiple documentation paths for self-employed San Diego County borrowers: bank statement loans (12-24 months deposits), P&L-only programs, and traditional tax return qualification. Our loan officers specialize in complex income situations.
Yes, first-time buyers represent about 35% of our San Diego County transactions. We help you navigate loan options, explain the differences between FHA, conventional, and VA programs, and identify down payment assistance available in San Diego County.
PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) is required on conventional loans with less than 20% down, costing 0.5-1% of your loan annually. Ways to avoid: put 20% down, use an 80-10-10 piggyback loan, or choose lender-paid PMI. PMI automatically drops once you reach 20% equity.
Rate buydowns (paying points upfront for a lower rate) make sense if you'll keep the loan 5+ years. Each point (1% of loan amount) typically reduces your rate by 0.25%. We calculate your break-even point and whether buying down makes financial sense for your San Diego County purchase.
San Diego County is designated as a high-cost area. Conventional conforming loan limits are $1M for single-family homes, $1.3M for 2-unit properties, $1.6M for 3-unit properties, and $1.9M for 4-unit properties. FHA limits match these amounts.
We serve all cities and communities throughout San Diego County, California.
Thanks to San Diego County's high-cost designation, you can finance homes up to $1M with a conventional conforming loan. You only need a jumbo loan for properties exceeding this amount.
Several programs are available including CalHFA down payment assistance, local first-time buyer programs, and various grant programs. We'll help you identify all programs you qualify for based on your income and location.
If you’re looking in San Diego County, you already know prices aren’t cheap. But here’s what a lot of buyers miss: the federal government classifies this as a “high-cost” area, which actually works in your favor. That designation bumps conforming loan limits to $1.01M—so a home that would need jumbo financing in most of the country can be financed with a regular conventional loan here. Better rates, easier qualification.
The county spans 10 cities, and they’re genuinely different from each other. Encinitas runs around $1.75M, while El Cajon comes in closer to $675K. That’s a wide gap, and it means your financing strategy depends heavily on which area you’re targeting.
What keeps the market stable is that people actually work here. Military and defense (Navy, Marines), and biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. When you have that kind of employment base, one sector slowing down doesn’t tank the whole housing market.
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