Many purchased or refinanced when mortgage rates were dramatically lower than today's market. At the same time, years of home-price appreciation have left longtime owners with substantial equity. A recent Realtor.com analysis estimates that the typical California homeowner has approximately $627,000 in home equity. That creates an obvious question: What if you need access to some of that equity but don't want to give up your existing first mortgage? For certain homeow

If you're financing an investment property in California, the best mortgage isn't necessarily the loan with the lowest advertised rate. It's the loan that fits the way you actually invest. A W-2 borrower purchasing a first rental property may be a great fit for conventional financing. An experienced investor with multiple properties may care more about whether the property cash flow qualifies than what appears on personal tax returns. A self-employed investor may need