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Homeownership in Southern California and beyond

Type · 2
Comparison (2)How-to (5)Q&A (8)Options (2)Program guide (3)Story (2)Local guide (3)Market update (2)
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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
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
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
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
A shingled craftsman house with a stone-pier porch and swing at evening before layered ridges.
Self-employedQ&A7 min read

Do lenders re-check self-employed income before closing?

Lenders re-check your job or business before closing. What self-employed buyers in escrow should hold steady, what can stop a loan, and who to ask first.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
Stacked cardboard moving boxes with a blanket on a driveway in bright sunlight.
Self-employedStory8 min read

Divorced and self-employed: what a lender reads before you buy

One San Diego file from decree to underwriting: what the lender read first, when support counted as income, and what self-employed buyers should ask.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
A shingled home with a garage and a small detached workshop on a lawn at golden hour.
QualifyingQ&A6 min read

Student loans in your DTI: each loan type has its own rule

FHA, VA, conventional and USDA loans can count an income-driven student loan payment differently. See what goes into DTI and what to ask each lender.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
Worker organizing tools on a driveway in front of suburban homes during daytime.
Self-employedQ&A7 min read

Self-employed jumbo loans in Carlsbad, Encinitas, Del Mar

Where a jumbo loan starts in San Diego County in 2026, why lenders want a stronger file, how bank statements can stand in for thin tax returns, and extra costs.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer
Two people stand on the front lawn of a two-story beige house with a garage, surrounded by palm trees and neighboring homes.
QualifyingStory5 min read

Buying a house after a short sale: a San Diego comeback

How long you wait after a short sale for FHA, VA and Fannie Mae loans, and how one San Diego couple timed their purchase to buy again.

Sophia WarnerSenior Loan Officer

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