Mortgage broker serving Soledad, 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 Soledad buyers, we match your unique situation to the right program.
Soledad buyers benefit from comparing multiple loan options to find the best fit.
We've spent 40+ years solving these exact challenges.
We're here to help match you with the perfect loan program for your Soledad 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 Soledad home. We coordinate everything to make closing day smooth and stress-free.
Finding the right home loan in Soledad starts with understanding your options. We've streamlined hundreds of mortgage programs into 8 clear categories for Soledad 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 Soledad 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 Soledad 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: $832,750 |
| 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 $832,750 |
| 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 Soledad buyers. Most homes under $995K with competitive rates.
Strong FHA option in Soledad. Low down payment gets you into most properties here.
$0 down for Soledad veterans. VA loans cover all properties with no PMI required.
Soledad business owners qualify on deposits. Tax write-offs reduce income on paper. Bank statements show reality.
CalHFA programs popular in Soledad. State assistance helps with down payment and closing costs.
Premium Soledad homes over $995K require jumbo loans. Less common but available for luxury properties.
Soledad sellers can buy first with bridge loans. Short-term financing until sale closes.
LLC financing options for Soledad investors. Buy rentals in entity names.
Conforming refinance for Soledad homeowners. Best rates for loans under $995K.
FHA streamline refinance for Soledad. Easiest way to lower your existing FHA rate.
VA streamline refi for Soledad veterans. Fastest way to reduce your mortgage payment.
Turn Soledad home equity into cash. Refinance at competitive rates for home improvements or debt.
HELOC available for Soledad homeowners. Access equity without replacing first mortgage.
Soledad owners can get home equity loans. Fixed rate for predictable payments.
DSCR loans work for Soledad investment properties. Cash flow analysis replaces income docs.
Fix-and-flip available for Soledad projects. Short-term financing for value-add investments.
Multifamily options for Soledad investors. Finance apartment buildings with commercial loans.
Soledad 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 Soledad buyers with qualifying income.
CalHFA programs popular in Soledad. State assistance helps with down payment and closing costs.
Soledad has local down payment programs. Combine with CalHFA for maximum assistance.
Elite grant available for Soledad buyers. Down payment assistance with no repayment.
Soledad family sales can use gift of equity. Equity difference becomes down payment.
Add a co-borrower for Soledad 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
Soledad sits in the Salinas Valley about 130 miles south of San Francisco and 25 miles southeast of Salinas. Population is 24,781, median household income $85,040. The homeownership rate here is 59.9%, right around the California average of 55%. At $669K median home price, you're looking at Central Coast pricing without the Carmel or Monterey premium. That $85K median income is strong for a small ag town, driven by stable government jobs and the farming industry that dominates the valley.
If you're buying with kids in mind, Soledad Unified runs the whole district. Soledad High serves the entire city, with Main Street Middle feeding into it. On the elementary side you've got Gabilan, Rose Ferrero, and Frank Paul spread across town. The schools here aren't pulling top ratings compared to coastal Monterey County, but they're stable and the district has consistent funding. For families, the real advantage is that $669K gets you a full-size house with a yard, which is tough to find anywhere else in Monterey County without pushing past $800K. The homeownership rate shows that families who buy here tend to stay, which matters when you're thinking about neighborhood stability and resale down the line.
Here's the thing about Soledad. It's not a big city with a dozen distinct neighborhoods, so inventory tends to cluster around that $669K median whether you're looking Downtown or East Soledad. Downtown Soledad centers on Front Street and the main commercial corridor, closer to services and the historic Mission, with a mix of older homes and some newer infill. East Soledad is mostly residential development from the last few decades, standard tract homes on typical suburban lots. Both areas work fine with conventional loans if you've got the 20% down, but FHA is common here for buyers stretching to make the numbers work on that $85K household income. The lack of price variation between neighborhoods actually simplifies your search. You're choosing based on lot size and home condition more than location premium.
The commute situation is real talk. San Francisco is 130 minutes on Highway 101, which makes daily commuting basically impossible unless you're doing it once or twice a week. Los Angeles is over four hours, so forget that. If you work in Salinas, you're looking at 25 minutes, which is doable and honestly the most common commute pattern for Soledad buyers. Monterey runs about 45 minutes depending on traffic. Local transit exists but most people drive. The isolation is exactly why Soledad stays at $669K while Salinas pushes $800K and anything closer to Monterey or Carmel hits seven figures. You're trading convenience for a mortgage payment that won't crush you.
The Correctional Training Facility, better known as Soledad State Prison, is the largest employer and brings stable government paychecks that qualify well for mortgages. Soledad Unified School District adds more public sector jobs with solid benefits. But the real economic driver here is agriculture. Taylor Farms is a major presence, and farming operations throughout the valley employ a significant chunk of the population. Monterey County government rounds out the employer base. The job mix means you've got a combination of stable government income and seasonal ag work, which affects the buyer pool. Lenders like seeing those prison and school district W-2s because they're predictable. If you're in ag, expect your loan officer to want two years of tax returns to smooth out the seasonal income swings.
Common questions from Soledad 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 Soledad 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 Soledad: Conventional (3% down), FHA (3.5% down), VA (0% for veterans), and our 6-Month Forgivable Grant Program covering your entire down payment. Many Soledad buyers purchase with 3.5% or less down.
Our No Money Down program offers $0 down payment for qualified Soledad 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 Soledad 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 Soledad families purchase with minimal upfront cash.
2026 Monterey County limits: FHA $994,750, Conventional $994,750. Any loan above $994,750 is a jumbo loan. Most Soledad properties fall within conforming limits, maximizing your financing options.
For Soledad'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 Soledad. 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 Soledad. We guide you through the entire process, help you understand FHA vs conventional vs VA options, identify all available down payment assistance in Monterey County, and structure your purchase to minimize upfront costs.
You still have options in Soledad. 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 Monterey County expertise, same-day underwriting decisions, and flexibility to solve complex situations that algorithm-based lenders decline.
Closing costs in Soledad 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 Soledad: Conventional (3% down), FHA (3.5% down), VA (0% for veterans), and our 6-Month Forgivable Grant Program covering your entire down payment. Many Soledad buyers purchase with 3.5% or less down.
A denial doesn't mean you can't buy in Soledad. 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 Monterey County expertise, same-day underwriting decisions, and flexibility to solve complex situations that algorithm-based lenders decline.
Closing costs in Soledad 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 Soledad 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 Monterey County limits: FHA $994,750, Conventional $994,750. Any loan above $994,750 is a jumbo loan. Most Soledad properties fall within conforming limits, maximizing your financing options.
Our No Money Down program offers $0 down payment for qualified Soledad 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 Soledad 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 Soledad families purchase with minimal upfront cash.
Absolutely—first-time buyers are our specialty in Soledad. We guide you through the entire process, help you understand FHA vs conventional vs VA options, identify all available down payment assistance in Monterey County, and structure your purchase to minimize upfront costs.
You still have options in Soledad. 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 Soledad'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 Soledad is $995,000 for 2025. This higher limit reflects Monterey County's elevated housing costs and covers most homes in Soledad's market, where the median price is around $669,000. You'll be able to purchase well above the median price with an FHA loan while putting down just 3.5%.
Most buyers in Soledad won't need a jumbo loan since conforming limits reach $995,000 in Monterey County. With the median home price at $669,000 and most properties ranging from $600K to $900K, you'll likely qualify for conventional, FHA, or VA financing. Only homes priced above $995,000 would require a jumbo loan.
The 2026 loan limits for Monterey County haven't been announced yet, but current limits are $995,000 for conforming, FHA, and VA loans. These limits are typically adjusted each fall based on home price trends. Given Soledad's stable market conditions, any changes are likely to be modest.
Yes, VA loans are very competitive in Soledad with a loan limit of $995,000 for 2025. If you're a qualified veteran or active. duty service member, you can purchase most homes in Soledad with $0 down and no PMI. With the median price at $669,000, VA loans offer excellent purchasing power in this market.
Our No Money Down program offers $0 down payment for qualified buyers in Soledad. Additionally, CalHFA provides down payment assistance programs with options for first. time and repeat buyers, and Monterey County may offer local assistance programs. These programs are particularly valuable in Soledad's market where the median home price of $669,000 makes saving for a down payment challenging.
Down payment requirements in Soledad vary by loan type. Conventional loans typically require 3% to 5% down ($20,000 to $33,000 on a $669,000 home), FHA loans need 3.5% down, and VA loans offer $0 down for eligible veterans. With down payment assistance programs available, many buyers can reduce or eliminate their upfront costs.
Most lenders in Soledad require a minimum credit score of 620 for conventional loans, while FHA loans can go as low as 580 (or even 500 with 10% down). With the median home price at $669,000, having a score above 680 will help you secure better interest rates and more favorable terms. VA loans typically require at least 580 to 620 depending on the lender.
Look for a lender experienced with Soledad's balanced market and the $600K to $900K price range typical here. Compare rates across multiple lenders, but also consider their knowledge of local down payment assistance programs and their ability to close on time. A lender familiar with Monterey County's loan limits and programs can help you maximize your purchasing power.
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