San Diego Home Loan Options
See the variety of San Diego mortgage options, from VA and FHA loans to revere mortgages and more.
VA Loans
San Diego’s deep military presence makes VA loans one of the most-used programs in the city, letting eligible veterans and active-duty buyers purchase with no down payment. The VA sets no official minimum credit score, though individual lenders commonly apply their own overlay, often around 580, and Tyler will walk you through how that applies to your specific file.
FHA Loans
FHA financing gives San Diego buyers a lower down payment path into homeownership, and borrowers with a credit score of 580 or higher can qualify for 3.5% down. San Diego County’s FHA loan limit adjusts annually given the area’s coastal home values, so check HUD.gov for the current figure before you shop.
Conventional and Jumbo Loans
Conventional financing typically starts at a 620 credit score, but San Diego’s coastal neighborhoods and premium inland communities push a large share of purchases past standard conforming limits and into jumbo territory. Jumbo loans generally call for a credit score of 700 or higher along with stronger reserves, and Tyler shops jumbo pricing across lenders the same way he does for any other program, since rate spreads on jumbo loans vary widely from one lender to the next.
Bank Statement Loans
San Diego’s large self-employed and small business community often has strong income that doesn’t show up cleanly on a W-2, and a bank statement loan, which requires a minimum credit score of 640, qualifies borrowers using bank deposits instead of tax returns.
DSCR Loans
Investors buying rental property across San Diego’s neighborhoods can qualify using the property’s own rental income through a DSCR loan, typically available to borrowers with credit scores in the low-to-mid 600s, rather than their personal income.
Reverse Mortgages
San Diego homeowners aged 62 and older, especially those in coastal neighborhoods where home values often exceed the standard HECM lending limit, can explore both HECM and proprietary jumbo reverse mortgage options through Tyler’s dedicated San Diego reverse mortgage page, which walks through eligibility, required counseling, and how payout estimates work in more detail.
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Get a quoteDown Payment Assistance in San Diego
San Diego buyers can pair a first mortgage with California’s MyHome Assistance Program through CalHFA, which provides a deferred-payment junior loan to help cover the down payment or closing costs. Given how far San Diego’s coastal home prices sit above the statewide average, CalHFA’s assistance amount often covers a smaller share of the purchase here than it would in a lower-cost inland market, so Tyler runs the numbers with you before recommending it as part of your loan structure. Credit score minimums and county income limits vary by program and change periodically, so he confirms current eligibility directly with CalHFA.
Qualification Requirements
Every loan program comes with its own credit, income, and documentation requirements, and Tyler builds his recommendation around your actual financial picture rather than a generic checklist.
The San Diego Home Loan Process
- Consultation. Tyler reviews your goals, timeline, and financial picture.
- Pre-approval. Know your buying power before you start touring San Diego homes.
- Lender comparison. Tyler shops your loan across multiple lenders to find your best terms.
- Application. Submit documentation through the online application portal.
- Underwriting. Tyler keeps you updated at every stage of the process.
- Closing. Sign your documents and get the keys to your new home.
Before you apply, you can run your numbers through the mortgage payment calculator to get a sense of what your monthly payment could look like.
Get Started With a San Diego Mortgage Broker
Tyler has spent over a decade financing homes across multiple states, and he applies that same broker-first approach to San Diego buyers: shopping your loan across lenders instead of representing just one, and giving you honest, direct answers instead of a sales pitch. San Diego buyers who want a personalized, transparent lending experience can reach him directly at (623) 806-4645 or tarnaiz@arnaizmortgage.com.
