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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)
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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
Bank-statement loans: how self-employed buyers qualify when their tax returns show less than they make
Self-employedProgram guide4 min read

Bank-statement loans: how self-employed buyers qualify when their tax returns show less than they make

Your tax returns aren't the only way to prove what you earn. Here's how lenders use your deposits instead, what it costs, and what to do before you look at a house.

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
Two people view a multi-story condo building with landscaped grounds in bright daylight.
BuyingComparison10 min read

Condo vs townhome: how HOA dues change what you can borrow

How HOA dues shrink your buying power, a condo vs townhome table, and how self-employed California buyers can compare total payments before making an offer.

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
Multiple people tour an empty home interior with bright sunlight from glass doors and windows.
Loan optionsProgram guide8 min read

CalHFA MyHome San Diego: who qualifies, what it costs

How CalHFA MyHome works for San Diego first-time buyers: how much it covers, the $259,000 county income limit, repayment, and options if you're self-⁠employed.

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

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