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

When people hear “California real estate,” affordable usually isn't the first word that comes to mind. San Francisco. Orange County. Los Angeles. San Jose. Marin. In many of California's best-known housing markets, buyers have become accustomed to home prices approaching — or easily exceeding — $1 million. But California isn't one housing market. Not even close. A recent affordability analysis ranked Porterville as the most affordable city in California, with a medi

If you're buying a home in Laguna Niguel, a conventional mortgage will probably be one of the first financing options you consider. But "conventional loan" covers a much wider range of situations than many buyers realize. You may be able to buy with less than 20% down. You may qualify for a 3% or 5% down payment option. You may be able to finance a loan well above the standard national conforming limit because Orange County is considered a high-cost housing market. And depend

If you're looking for an FHA loan in Laguna Niguel, you don't need to find an "FHA-only" lender. You need to work with an FHA-approved mortgage lender or loan professional who can determine whether FHA actually makes sense for your situation, compare it with conventional and other available financing, and structure the loan around Orange County home prices. That's an important distinction. An FHA loan can be an excellent option for buyers who have a smaller down payment, less

If you own a home in Laguna Niguel and are considering refinancing, the first question shouldn't necessarily be: "What's the refinance rate?" The better first question is: "What am I trying to accomplish?" A homeowner trying to lower a monthly payment has a very different objective from someone trying to pull $200,000 of equity out of a property. And someone who needs $75,000 for a remodel may discover that refinancing the entire first mortgage isn't the smartest way to acces

If you're buying your first home in Sonoma County, one of the first decisions you'll probably face is whether to use an FHA loan or a conventional loan. The short answer: neither one is automatically better. FHA can be a great fit when your down payment is limited, your credit profile needs some flexibility, or your debt-to-income ratio makes conventional financing difficult. Conventional financing can be the better choice when your credit is stronger, you qualify for a 3% or