Different loan programs vary in the exact amount of documentation required, but you will typically need to provide: - Photo ID - Past two years’ W2s or 1099s - Last 30 days’ paystubs - Past two years’ tax returns (self-employed) - Two months’ bank statements - Current mortgage statement + Homeowner’s insurance policy (if applicable)

(1) DISCOVERY The first step is to contact us (either by email, phone, or through our website) to schedule a consult so we can review your short and long term financial goals & start developing a plan to help you achieve them. (2) PRE-APPROVAL You will complete our streamlined mortgage application and upload the necessary documents so that we can verify your income, credit, and assets, and select the correct loan program. Finding the right fit for you is the most critical part of the process. We will work through all of the options and numbers with you so there are no surprises down the road. We will issue a pre-approval letter that shows your realtors and home sellers you are a qualified buyer. This is your golden ticket to start looking at homes! (3) FIND A HOME When you find your ideal home, I will work with you and your agent to help you craft a winning offer based on the current market and your needs. Once the seller accepts your offer, we'll order and appraisal and begin processing and underwriting your loan. (4) FINAL APPROVAL The underwriter will review the appraisal and your income/asset documents to verify you meet all the conditions for the loan. They will issue the "clear to close" when the loan is approved. All that's left is for you to wire your funds and sign your final paperwork!

No! 20% down payment is not ideal for many buyers and is definitely NOT a requirement to getting a home loan. Conventional loans require 3-5% down, FHA loans require only 3.5% down, and VA and USDA loans require 0% down. We will help to give you clarity on the perfect down payment amount for you. Just know that it does not need to be 20%. Together we will balance the right out-of pocket expenses and monthly payment to find your down payment sweet-spot!

When your credit is pulled for mortgage purposes, it does not negatively impact your score. Preapprovals last 3 months because that is how long the credit report lasts, and if you don't find a house in that time, its no big deal - we just update it!

You don’t have to be debt-free to purchase a home. Paying off your debts is going to reduce your debt-to-income ratio and allow you to better afford your mortgage payments each month, but you need to be careful how much you spend because you are also saving for your down payment, We can advise you how to best manage or consolidate your debt to put yourself in the best overall position to buy your home.

When a borrower puts less than 20% down, the lender is taking extra risk, so they require Private Mortgage Insurance, which gets added to your monthly payment. PMI isn't a bad thing - it allows you to make a lower down payment and still qualify for the loan.

Typical closing costs make up anywhere from 2-4% of the loan amount here in California. These include the myriad fees for the escrow, title, and mortgage services, as well as your prepaid share of insurance, taxes, and interest for the days you will own the home before your first mortgage payment. We ensure there are no surprises when it comes to your closing costs. We will go through your loan estimate in detail with you so you understand where each fee is going.

Typical escrow periods are 30-45 days, but we can close in as little as 14 days when needed to help make your offer stand out.

People refinance with different goals in mind. Are you refinancing to lower your rate and monthly payments? Are you refinancing to cash out some home equity? Do you want pay off your loan sooner? Are you experiencing a divorce? These are various reasons people decide to refinance, and we will work with you to determine your goals and loan options.