Skip to the articles
Ask Sophia

Rate Piggy

Homeownership in Southern California and beyond

Type · 4
Comparison (2)How-to (5)Q&A (8)Options (2)Program guide (3)Story (2)Local guide (3)Market update (2)
Clear
Someone sits on a porch railing with suburban houses in warm evening light.
QualifyingQ&A6 min read

Bonus, overtime and commission: how lenders average two years of pay

How lenders average bonus, overtime and commission over two years, a worked example of why a raise counts less, and what 1099 earners should compare.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
Hand opening a wooden door to view neighboring residential buildings in bright daylight.
Loan optionsHow-to11 min read

FHA condo approval: what to check before you offer

A three-step FHA condo check (approved list, Single-Unit Approval, offer clause) and how to decide: FHA as usual, FHA with extra time, or another loan or building.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
A pale blue San Francisco Victorian with a bay window and carved trim in soft fog.
San DiegoLocal guide8 min read

$150K income in San Diego: what sets your payment

What sets the payment on a $150K income in Chula Vista, Escondido and Clairemont, plus 2026 San Diego County loan limits and self-employed income.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
A snow-covered log cabin among tall pines at dusk, its windows and half-glass front door glowing warm against deep snow.
Loan optionsQ&A8 min read

Is a half-point rate drop worth a refinance?

Find your break-even month on a half-point refinance with a worked example, plus the VA and FHA rules and income proof for self-employed owners.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
Two people laughing as they carry a sofa down porch steps in afternoon sun.
BuyingHow-to10 min read

Gift Money for a Down Payment: The Paper Trail Lenders Want

A four-step checklist for using family gift money on a down payment: gift letter rules, matching transfers, a clean deposit trail and the 2026 IRS gift figures.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
People packing moving boxes in a bright living room with windows and a couch.
BuyingQ&A8 min read

Seller-paid 2-1 buydown: what it changes and what it doesn't

How a seller-paid 2-1 buydown steps up over three years, what each loan program lets a seller pay, and why it won't help self-employed income qualify.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
Two people sit at a table in a warmly lit room during an evening conversation.
Loan optionsHow-to11 min read

Removing PMI from a conventional loan: a step checklist

A five-step checklist for dropping PMI on a conventional loan: find your CFPB 80% and 78% marks, ask in writing, weigh an appraisal and confirm it stopped.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
Two people stand on a driveway viewing residential homes in daylight.
San DiegoLocal guide10 min read

Closing costs in San Diego County: who usually pays what

A who-pays-what table for San Diego County closing costs, seller-credit limits by loan type, CalHFA help, and cash-to-close planning for self-employed buyers.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
A large modern home of glass, cedar and stone glowing at dusk behind a long reflecting pool and planted terraced garden.
Self-employedQ&A7 min read

Why your lender asks about large deposits

Fannie Mae's 50% large-deposit rule, when a purchase needs a paper trail, what a gift letter must say, and how self-employed buyers can plan ahead.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer

Buying in San Diego County?

Get a personal rate quote from Sophia before you start touring homes.

Get My Rate Quote