California home loans, from CalHFA down payment assistance to Bay Area jumbo.
California-licensed lending built around your county, your CalHFA or GSFA options, and your price point. Mike is the branch manager who closes the California files other lenders decline.
Program figures verified July 2026 — details change; confirm your scenario with us.
California-licensed loan officers who work CalHFA MyHome, Dream For All, and GSFA Platinum every week across Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area.
Real numbers, no script. We tell you when a CalHFA second or GSFA gift beats plain conventional in your California county, and when it doesn't.
A Dream For All first-timer, a self-employed buyer in the Central Valley, a jumbo in Orange County, a DSCR investor on the coast. One California branch covers all of it.
Mike and his California-licensed loan officers run every file directly, from CalHFA registration through escrow close. No handoffs to junior LOs, and you always know where your California loan stands.
Pick the California loan path that fits your county and price point.
Each guide goes deep on one kind of California buyer, from CalHFA-paired first-timers to Bay Area jumbo and coastal DSCR. 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 drops the sale contingency so you can buy in a competitive California market before your current home closes. Bay Area and Southern California listing agents call this the deal-saver.
See BBYS details →Self-Employed Loans
Bank-statement, 1099, and asset-qualifier paths for California's contractors, agents, and business owners. Qualify on what your business banks, not what your Schedule C shows after deductions.
See Self-Employed details →Jumbo & Doctor Loans
Full doc, alt doc, super jumbo, plus the Medical Professionals program for doctors at UCLA, UCSF, Stanford, and Cedars-Sinai. 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 qualify on rent, including sub-1.0 scenarios on our investor menu. Short-term-rental and standard-rental products built for California coast, Tahoe, and Palm Springs 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 California-licensed loan officer who knows CalHFA, not a call-center voice.
Mike Certo is the Branch Manager at Cornerstone First Mortgage, originating California loans from CalHFA-paired first mortgages to Bay Area jumbo. He leads California-licensed loan officers who run files directly through California's escrow-and-title close, with no junior LOs working your file in the background and no handoffs mid-escrow.
What you get on a California file with Mike:
- Direct line. Real cell phone, real return calls the same day on your California file.
- Real numbers. Honest math on whether CalHFA, GSFA, or plain conventional fits your California scenario, including when DPA isn't the right move.
- Files that close. Mike specializes in the hard California files: complex income docs, contingency removal, Bay Area jumbo with student debt, and 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% on conventional, 3.5% on FHA, and $0 down on VA or USDA for eligible buyers. A CalHFA MyHome second or a GSFA Platinum gift can cover much of a California down payment.
Why does CA Loan Experts have multiple websites?
Each lending niche has its own questions. We built dedicated California guides for CalHFA and GSFA down payment assistance, buy-before-you-sell bridge, self-employed, jumbo, investor, and first-time-buyer paths so California buyers land on the answers that matter. CA Loan Experts is the brand parent linking them all.
What kind of borrowers do you typically work with?
First-time California buyers using CalHFA or GSFA assistance, self-employed borrowers who need bank-statement or 1099 loans, jumbo borrowers including doctors at UCLA and Stanford, DSCR investors on the coast, and move-up buyers who need bridge financing to drop the contingency from their offers.
Do you work with real estate agents?
Yes, complex files are our specialty. Listing agents across California bring us their contingent-on-sale files so we can bridge the buyer into the next home before the current one closes. Buyer agents bring us self-employed, CalHFA, and unusual-property California 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 California scenario through the contact form. Our team calls you back shortly, and pre-approval on a California file typically takes 24 to 48 hours once credit and income docs are in.
Ready when you are.
Get pre-approved on your California file in 24 to 48 hours, or talk to Mike first to figure out which CalHFA, GSFA, or jumbo path fits.