A higher standard of lending.
California-licensed lending. Real numbers. Loans built around your scenario. Built from a Cornerstone branch — a branch manager who closes the deals other lenders walk away from.
California-licensed lender, we know the programs available to California borrowers.
Real numbers. No salesy script. We tell you when Down Payment Assistance (DPA) isn't the right move.
First-time buyer, self-employed, jumbo, investor, move-up — we cover the full lender's toolbox.
Mike and his team of seasoned loan officers handle every file directly. No handoffs to junior LOs. You always know where you are in the loan process.
Pick the path that fits your situation.
Each of our specialized guides goes deep on one type of buyer. Land directly on the answers that matter to you.
Down Payment Assistance
CalHFA MyHome, CalHFA Dream For All, GSFA Platinum, plus Chenoa, Arrive, and Essex. The full California DPA menu, explained simply.
See California DPA details →Buy Before You Sell
Bridge financing that removes the contingency from your offer. Buy your next home before your current one sells. Listing agents: this is the deal-saver.
See BBYS details →Self-Employed Loans
Bank statement, 1099, and asset-qualifier paths. Qualify on what your business actually makes — not what your tax return shows after deductions.
See Self-Employed details →Jumbo & Doctor Loans
Full doc, alt doc, super jumbo, plus the Medical Professionals program — up to 100% LTV, no PMI, FICO 680, residents and fellows eligible 150 days pre-start.
See Jumbo / Doctor details →Investor & DSCR Loans
DSCR loans that finance below the 1.0 ratio floor most lenders quote. Short-term-rental and standard rental property options. Built for CA STR markets.
See Investor / DSCR details →First-Time Home Buyer Loans
FHA, USDA, and Conventional 97 with low down payment, plus CalHFA / GSFA DPA-paired structures. Designed for the California buyer with real-life income and credit, not perfect-paper applicants.
See First-Time Buyer details →A licensed California loan officer, not a call-center voice.
Mike Certo is the Branch Manager at Cornerstone First Mortgage. He leads a team of seasoned California-licensed loan officers who originate mortgages directly and work with buyers and agents through closing. No junior LOs running files in the background. No handoffs in the middle of escrow.
What you get when you work with Mike:
- Direct line. Real cell phone, real return calls within hours, not days.
- Real numbers. Honest math on which programs fit your scenario — including when DPA isn't the right move.
- Files that close. Mike specializes in the deals other lenders pass on: Complex income docs, contingency removal, jumbo with student debt, investors at scale.
Common questions.
What is the conforming loan limit in California for 2026?
In 2026 the conforming loan limit is $832,750 in most California counties and $1,249,125 in high-cost counties like Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Loan amounts in between are high-balance conforming.
How much down payment do I need to buy a house in California?
It depends on the loan: 3% down on conventional, 3.5% on FHA, and $0 down on VA or USDA for eligible buyers. California down-payment-assistance programs can cover much of that.
Why does CA Loan Experts have multiple websites?
Each lending niche has its own questions and audience. We built dedicated guides for down payment assistance, buy-before-you-sell, self-employed loans, jumbo, investor, and first-time-buyer paths so each set of buyers can land directly on the answers that matter to them. CA Loan Experts is the brand parent linking them all.
What kind of borrowers do you typically work with?
First-time buyers using down payment assistance, self-employed borrowers who need bank-statement or 1099 loans, jumbo borrowers including doctors, investors using DSCR for rental properties, and move-up buyers who need bridge financing to remove the contingency from their offers.
Do you work with real estate agents?
Yes — we close the deals other lenders walk away from. Listing agents bring us their CCBS files (contract contingent on buyer sale) so we can provide bridge financing that removes the contingency. Buyer agents bring us self-employed, complex-doc, or unusual-property files. Visit the For Agents page for the full referral playbook.
What's the fastest way to find out if you can help me?
Call (480) 296-6513 and ask for Mike. Or send your scenario through the contact form. We respond within one business day. Pre-approval typically takes 24-48 hours after credit + income docs are in.
Ready when you are.
Get pre-approved in 24-48 hours, or talk to Mike first to figure out which path fits.