Sophia Warner's Blog
Straight answers on buying, qualifying and choosing a loan in San Diego County.
Self-employedWhy your lender asks about large deposits
Fannie Mae's 50% large-deposit rule, when a purchase needs a paper trail, what a gift letter must say, and how self-employed buyers can plan ahead.
BuyingSeller-paid 2-1 buydown: what it changes and what it doesn't
How a seller-paid 2-1 buydown steps up over three years, what each loan program lets a seller pay, and why it won't help self-employed income qualify.
QualifyingTax season mortgage papers: which year the lender reads
A six-step tax-season checklist for self-employed buyers: which year the lender reads, returns or transcripts, Form 4506-C, bank statements and Loan Estimate.
San DiegoClosing costs in San Diego County: who usually pays what
A who-pays-what table for San Diego County closing costs, seller-credit limits by loan type, CalHFA help, and cash-to-close planning for self-employed buyers.
Loan optionsFHA vs conventional at a 680–740 score: the five-year cost
With a small down payment and a 680–740 score, compare FHA's HUD premiums on a $400,000 example with a written conventional insurance quote over five years.
BuyingTwo Loan Estimates, line by line: what to compare
Five steps for comparing two Loan Estimates across pages 1 and 2, written for self-employed buyers, with a side-by-side table and a check on which fees can still change.
Self-employedDo lenders re-check self-employed income before closing?
Lenders re-check your job or business before closing. What self-employed buyers in escrow should hold steady, what can stop a loan, and who to ask first.
San Diego