California Mortgage Broker

Bayview Residential Brokerage is a licensed California mortgage broker (CA DRE License 01498198, CA DFPI License 60DBO-185969, NMLS ID 329189) helping buyers and homeowners across the state finance the right home at the right terms. Because we are a broker rather than a single bank, we shop over 80 wholesale lenders on your behalf and bring back the most competitive fit, whether you are buying a first condo in Long Beach, a family home in Sacramento, or a higher-priced property in the Bay Area or Orange County.

California is really many markets in one, from the high-cost coast to the more affordable Central Valley and Inland Empire, and the right loan strategy looks different in each. This page covers the essentials for 2026, and you can follow the links to your city for local detail.

The California housing market in 2026

California remains the country's largest and most varied housing market. The coastal metros, including the Bay Area, coastal Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, remain high-priced and competitive, with many homes requiring jumbo financing. Inland, the Central Valley cities such as Fresno, Bakersfield and Stockton, along with Sacramento and the Inland Empire, offer far more attainable prices and are popular with first-time buyers and those relocating from the coast.

Across most of the state in 2026, prices have leveled off from their peak and homes are taking a bit longer to sell, which gives buyers more negotiating room than they had a few years ago. Because prices and loan limits vary so widely by county, matching the loan to the local market is where a broker adds real value.

Loan programs for California buyers

Conventional loans. The default for buyers with solid credit, with as little as 3% down for qualified first-time buyers.

FHA loans. A lower 3.5% down payment and flexible qualifying, popular with first-time and credit-building buyers, especially in the more affordable inland markets.

VA loans. California has one of the largest military communities in the country, from Camp Pendleton and the San Diego naval bases to installations across the state. Eligible veterans and service members can buy with zero down and no monthly mortgage insurance.

USDA loans. Zero-down financing for eligible rural communities, common on the fringes of the Central Valley and Inland Empire.

Jumbo loans. For higher-priced homes above the conforming limit, essential in the Bay Area, Orange County and coastal Los Angeles and San Diego.

Reverse mortgages. For homeowners 62 and older who want to convert equity into cash without a monthly mortgage payment.

Buying a rental in California? A DSCR loan qualifies on the property's rental income rather than your personal income.

Down payment assistance in California

California buyers have help with the down payment through the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA). Programs such as the MyHome Assistance Program provide a deferred-payment junior loan toward the down payment or closing costs when paired with a CalHFA first mortgage, and CalHFA periodically offers shared-appreciation help like the Dream For All program when funding is available. Many cities and counties also run their own assistance. Eligibility depends on income, credit and homebuyer education, and we help you find and coordinate the right program with your loan.

Property taxes and Proposition 13

California property taxes are governed by Proposition 13. Your tax is based on the home's assessed value, which generally starts at your purchase price, plus a base rate of about 1% and any local voter-approved measures, and annual increases in assessed value are capped at 2%. That predictability makes long-term budgeting easier. When we prepare your pre-approval, we include realistic tax and insurance estimates so your monthly number is the real one.

Why work with Bayview in California

A retail bank can only offer its own products. As a broker, Bayview Residential Brokerage shops over 80 lenders on your behalf and brings back the most competitive fit, which often means a lower rate, lower fees, or a program a single bank does not carry. That advantage is even more valuable in California, where jumbo pricing and program guidelines vary widely from lender to lender. You do all your comparison shopping with one company, and you keep the same advisor from your first question through closing day. We are licensed across California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.

Founded in 2004 and based in Los Gatos, Bayview Residential Brokerage has funded 17,041 loans totaling more than $8.1 billion, and our team includes over 135 licensed mortgage loan originators. Among California mortgage brokers, that depth means your advisor has likely worked through a file like yours before.

California mortgage FAQs

What are the 2026 conforming loan limits in California?

They vary by county. The baseline is $832,750 in most inland counties, rising to $1,249,125 in high-cost coastal counties such as Los Angeles, Orange and the Bay Area, with San Diego County at $1,104,000.

Is Bayview licensed to lend in California?

Yes. Bayview Residential is a licensed California mortgage broker (CA DRE License 01498198, CA DFPI License 60DBO-185969, NMLS ID 329189) serving buyers statewide.

What down payment assistance is available in California?

CalHFA offers programs such as MyHome for down payment and closing-cost help, and periodically the Dream For All shared appreciation program. Many cities and counties run their own programs too.

Do you offer jumbo loans in California?

Yes. In high-cost markets many homes exceed the conforming limit, and we place jumbo and high-balance loans with competitive terms.

What is the difference between a California mortgage broker and a bank?

A bank lends its own products. A California mortgage broker compares programs from many wholesale lenders and helps you choose one. Bayview works with over 80 lenders, so you can compare options through one advisor.

How do I verify CA mortgage brokers?

Look up the company and your loan originator on NMLS Consumer Access. CA mortgage brokers are licensed through the Department of Real Estate or the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Bayview is NMLS ID 329189, CA DRE License 01498198 and CA DFPI License 60DBO-185969.

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