How much do I need for a down payment to buy a home in California?

It depends on the loan program. Conventional loans can start at 3% down, FHA at 3.5%, and VA and certain programs allow 0% down for eligible buyers. Non-QM and jumbo loans typically ask for more. We'll match you to the lowest realistic down payment for your situation.

What credit score do I need to get a mortgage in California?

Many programs start around a 580–620 score, and some Non-QM and FHA options go lower with compensating factors. A higher score usually means a better rate. If your score needs work, we'll give you a clear plan to get approval-ready.

What is a Non-QM loan and who is it for?

A Non-QM (non-qualified mortgage) loan uses alternative income documentation instead of standard W-2s and tax returns. It's built for self-employed borrowers, business owners, real estate investors, and people with complex income. Common types include bank statement loans, DSCR loans (qualify on rental income), and asset-based loans.

Can self-employed borrowers get a home loan?

Yes. With a bank statement loan, we can qualify you using 12–24 months of deposits instead of tax returns, so write-offs don't work against you. It's one of the most common ways self-employed Californians get approved.

How long does it take to close a mortgage in California?

Most purchase loans close in roughly 3–4 weeks once you're in contract, and refinances often move faster. Getting fully pre-approved up front is the single biggest thing that keeps your closing on schedule.

Does Genesis Home Loans work everywhere in California?

Yes — Genesis Home Loans serves homebuyers and homeowners across the entire state of California, from the Bay Area to Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and everywhere in between.

Nine Calculators · California

Nine calculators. Every one of them will argue with us.

Rent vs Buy tells you to rent. Extra Payment tells you to invest instead. Cash-Out tells you to take a HELOC. DSCR tells you to walk. We are a mortgage brokerage and these are our own tools.

Buying · $2,417/mo missingMortgage PaymentThe payment they quote you is 39% short. We show the whole number — taxes, insurance, PMI, and the maintenance nobody mentions.The OmissionOpen Buying · $180,667 apartHome AffordabilityThe bank will approve you for $1.1M. You can comfortably afford $926k. We show you both numbers and tell you to take the smaller one.The GapOpen Buying · Year 2 → neverRent vs BuyA mortgage brokerage's own calculator, telling you to keep renting. At 3.5% appreciation, renting wins.Sensitivity BandOpen Refinancing · +$149,015 hiddenRefinance SavingsThe reset trap. A fresh 30-year lowers your payment and costs you $149,015 more. Ask for the same-term quote.The Reset TrapOpen Refinancing · $440,318 lostCash-Out / HELOCTo get $80,000 they'll re-price your whole 3% mortgage. That costs $440,318. A HELOC borrows around it.The Rate You DestroyOpen Planning · A coin flip at 6.75%Extra Payment$200/mo takes 2.7 years off your loan. Then we show you why you might be better off investing it instead.Prepay vs InvestOpen Planning · Ranked by reliefDebt-to-IncomePay off the $7,200 loan, not the $61,000 one. Same relief, one eighth the cash. Everyone gets this backwards.The Kill ListOpen Planning · $17,890 you can fightClosing CostsYour down payment is not your cash to close. The gap is $32,606 — and $17,890 of it is negotiable.What's NegotiableOpen Planning · Qualifying ≠ workingDSCR / RentalDSCR 1.11 — the lender approves. Real cash flow −$1,041/mo — the deal loses money. Both are true.The WaterfallOpen

Why they argue with us

A calculator that always says yes is an advertisement.

Every mortgage calculator on the internet is a lead magnet dressed as a utility. Ours are too — we are not going to pretend otherwise. The difference is that ours will tell you not to borrow when the arithmetic says not to borrow, and we would rather lose the loan than lose the argument.

Want a human to run your actual numbers? Adriana will — and she'll tell you if the answer is no.