We're a broker, so we shop your loan across 20+ wholesale lenders and close in about 18 days once your documents are in. You work with one loan officer from quote to keys. Offices in Newport Beach and Marina del Rey serve Orange County, Los Angeles and all 58 California counties.
See your rate in 60 seconds. We don't ask for your SSN or pull credit.
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$500 BEST PRICE GUARANTEE
Send us a locked Loan Estimate from any lender. If we can't beat its rate, lender fees and monthly mortgage insurance combined, we mail you a $500 check. The guarantee covers Conventional Conforming, FHA and VA loans of $200,000 or more.
Two California offices
We have offices in Newport Beach and Marina del Rey, but you never need to visit. You upload documents through our secure portal and talk to your loan officer however you like.
Local mortgage broker pages: Los Angeles · Orange County · San Diego · Irvine · Newport Beach · Marina del Rey & Westside · Sacramento · San Jose
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Save Financial is a California-licensed mortgage broker (NMLS #377740, DRE #01875766) headquartered in Newport Beach with a second office in Marina del Rey. Founded in 2009 by President and Mortgage Broker Mike Basti, we offer purchase loans, refinances, jumbo, non-QM, DSCR, and home-equity products across all 58 California counties. You get wholesale pricing through our lender network and a written $500 best-price guarantee on eligible loans.
Save Financial is an independent California mortgage brokerage (NMLS #377740), licensed in all 58 counties. We send your file to the wholesale lenders that fit it, compare their pricing, and run the loan through closing. You deal with one loan officer the whole way.
A bank offers its own programs. We offer any program our 20+ lenders carry. We've closed over 2,000 self-employed loans since 2009, so whether you're a founder, a contractor or an investor, we've built a loan like yours before.
Our lenders cover these programs, including several your bank won't offer:
Browse all loan programs, or start your application and we'll recommend one.
Save Financial arranges more than 20 loan programs through its wholesale lenders, from conventional, FHA and VA purchase loans to jumbo, DSCR investor, bank statement and home equity loans. The table compares the main programs; the cards below explain each one. We've closed loans for first-time buyers in Riverside, self-employed founders in Palo Alto, veterans in San Diego and investors in Sacramento.
| Program | Best for | Min. credit (typical) | Min. down / max LTV | Loan size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | W-2 earners and first-time buyers | 620 | 3% first-time buyers, 5% others | Up to $832,750 (2026 FHFA limit), $1,249,125 in high-cost counties |
| FHA | Lower credit or a small down payment | 580 | 3.5% | Up to the county FHA limit |
| VA | Eligible veterans, service members and surviving spouses | No VA minimum; most lenders want 580–620 | 0% | Set by entitlement and lender |
| Jumbo | Homes above the conforming limit | 700 | 10% | Up to $10M |
| DSCR | Investors qualifying on rental income | 660 | 20–25% | Varies by lender |
| Bank statement | Self-employed and 1099 borrowers | Varies by lender | 10% | Up to $3M |
| HELOC | Homeowners keeping their first mortgage | Varies by lender | Up to 90% combined LTV | Revolving line, 10-year draw |
| HELOAN | A fixed lump sum on a second mortgage | Varies by lender | Up to 85% combined LTV | Up to $500k |
| Cash-out refinance | Replacing the first mortgage and taking cash | Varies by program | Up to 80% LTV (primary home) | Program limits apply |
Minimums are typical lender guidelines, not guarantees; your loan officer confirms what applies to your file. Loan limits: FHFA.
A conventional loan is a mortgage that isn’t backed by a government agency and follows Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac rules. Our lowest rates go to borrowers with 620+ credit. First-time buyers put 3% down; everyone else puts 5%. FHFA's 2026 limit is $832,750, and some lenders already allow $850,000 under early 2027 limits.
An FHA loan is a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Buy with 3.5% down and a 580 credit score, and stack CalHFA down payment assistance on top.
A VA loan is a mortgage guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligible service members, veterans and surviving spouses buy with $0 down and pay no PMI.
A jumbo loan is a mortgage above the conforming limit ($832,750 under FHFA's 2026 limits, $850,000 at lenders using early 2027 limits), up to $10M, for homes in the Bay Area, coastal LA, Orange County and other high-cost markets.
A DSCR loan is an investor mortgage that qualifies on the property's rent instead of your personal income. We don't need your tax returns, and you can vest in an LLC.
A non-QM loan is a mortgage that uses alternative income documents instead of tax returns. Self-employed founders, 1099 contractors and gig workers qualify with 12 or 24 months of bank statements in place of W-2s.
A HELOC (home equity line of credit) is a revolving second mortgage: you borrow against your equity and leave your first mortgage as is. Choose a standalone or piggyback line up to 90% combined LTV.
USDA, fix-and-flip, ITIN, asset-based, reverse mortgage, rate-and-term refi, purchase, and more.
View all 20 programs →A refinance replaces your current mortgage with a new one. Lower your rate, shorten your term, or pull cash out of your California home. Rate-and-term and cash-out programs across all loan types.
A HELOAN (home equity loan) is a fixed-rate second mortgage paid out as one lump sum. Terms run 10 to 30 years, up to 85% CLTV.
A cash-out refinance replaces your first mortgage with a larger one and pays you the difference in cash. Up to 80% LTV on a primary home, fixed rate, one loan.
First-time buyer programs are loans and down payment help for people buying their first home: CalHFA, MyHome, Dream For All, and conventional first-time buyer programs, with down payments from 0% to 3%.
An investment property loan finances a home you rent out rather than live in. We arrange conventional, DSCR, and portfolio loans for California single-family, 2-4 unit, and short-term rentals.
A bank statement loan qualifies self-employed borrowers on 12 to 24 months of deposits instead of tax returns. It fits 1099 earners and business owners who write off too much to qualify on their returns.
Tell a licensed loan officer how you earn your income and what you want to do. You get a program recommendation on the first call.
Book a free consult →A bank sells its own products. I shop wholesale pricing across 20+ lenders and pick the one that fits you. When you call, you reach me.
Some borrowers worry a broker adds a middleman fee. Who pays me depends on the loan, and often the lender does. Your Loan Estimate shows my compensation before you commit. I don't lend my own money or hold your funds. I use my license and lender relationships to get you wholesale pricing.
Agency loan data shows broker loans priced 0.14% to 0.24% below retail lenders each year from 2021 to 2025. Freddie Mac found that one extra rate quote saves a borrower about $1,500 over the life of a loan. See the full comparison: mortgage broker vs. bank: who has lower rates.
My first question: what are your goals, and how do you earn your income? You'll want to talk credit score and savings, and those matter. Your income type (W-2, self-employed or investor) decides which programs we can use.
Mike Basti, President and Mortgage Broker · Save Financial
Getting a mortgage through Save Financial takes about 18 days from a complete application to closing. Your loan officer shops 20+ wholesale lenders for your rate, and the process runs in four steps: a 60-second rate request with no SSN or credit pull; a full application and secure document upload, with a pre-approval letter within 24 hours; your offer, backed by a fully underwritten pre-approval; and signing with a notary near you, after which the lender funds the loan. Most delays come from late documents, slow appraisals and HOA paperwork. Refinances of owner-occupied homes also include the federal 3-day right of rescission before funding.
Fill out the 60-second form. We don't ask for your SSN or pull credit. A loan officer calls you back with your rate, most often within the hour.
Submit a complete loan application and upload pay stubs, W-2s and bank statements through our encrypted portal. You get your pre-approval letter within 24 hours.
Make your offer with a fully underwritten pre-approval behind it. Listing agents give those offers more weight.
Sign final documents with a notary near you. The lender funds the loan and you get your keys.
Save Financial is licensed to arrange home loans in all 58 California counties, from Del Norte to Imperial. Conforming loan limits are set county by county: FHFA's 2026 one-unit limit is $832,750 in most counties, $1,249,125 in the highest-cost counties (including Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Alameda) and in between elsewhere, such as $1,104,000 in San Diego County. A loan above your county's limit is a jumbo loan, with its own down payment and credit rules. Each county also charges a documentary transfer tax, and some cities add their own, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, so closing costs on the same price can differ between neighboring cities.
| County | Example cities | 2026 FHFA limit | Above the limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Pasadena | $1,249,125 | Jumbo loan |
| Orange | Irvine, Newport Beach, Anaheim | $1,249,125 | Jumbo loan |
| San Diego | San Diego, Carlsbad, Chula Vista | $1,104,000 | Jumbo loan |
| San Francisco | San Francisco | $1,249,125 | Jumbo loan |
| Santa Clara | San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale | $1,249,125 | Jumbo loan |
| Alameda | Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont | $1,249,125 | Jumbo loan |
| Sacramento | Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom | $832,750 | Jumbo loan |
| Riverside | Riverside, Temecula, Corona | $832,750 | Jumbo loan |
| Fresno | Fresno, Clovis | $832,750 | Jumbo loan |
| Kern | Bakersfield | $832,750 | Jumbo loan |
Source: FHFA 2026 conforming loan limits. FHFA announces 2027 limits in late November 2026.
Client reviews
We pulled these reviews from Google, Yelp and Zillow and shortened names for privacy. Read the full reviews on Yelp, Zillow, and Google Reviews.
Nara K. · San Clemente, Orange County
Mike and team are awesome! The rate was great, escrow costs low and they closed my refinance ahead of schedule! I have made several purchases over the years and can confidently state that Mike is at a very high level of providing you the best financial deal as well as the service to back it up.
Liam F. · Palo Alto, Santa Clara County
We received a great rate and excellent service with Ali at Save Financial. Ali kept us updated at every stage of the process. Our loan paperwork sailed smoothly through the system ahead of schedule. Would happily do business with Ali and his company again. Strong recommend!
Johny R. · Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
I worked with Ali on my refinancing needs and couldn't be happier. He is very professional, responds to your questions in timely manner. He went above and beyond with my refinancing needs to get me the BEST rate possible. He offered great advice which option was best for me.
Erika H. · Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
We shopped around a lot when looking for loans for our refinance. Ali with Save Financial consistently had the lowest rates and the best deal. More than that, he took the time to explain every detail, was honest and upfront from the start, and he made the whole process smooth and worry free.
Shannon L. · San Diego, San Diego County
I honestly don't know how Mike did it because he got me an amazing rate that I couldn't find anywhere else and boy did I shop around. Additionally, he was really good at explaining the costs and all my options in a very simple way so I could understand. All in all, I really felt I could trust him.
Ted B. · Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
Ali is the best! I've been in the real estate industry for 31 years and I've worked with many, many lenders and Ali stands out on top. He was always quick to respond to emails; he delivered as promised; he was helpful and friendly and always followed up. On top of that we got a fantastic rate!
Greg C. · Temecula, Riverside County
The entire experience with Ali was positive from start to finish. Everything that he discussed on the initial call came through as planned. The process was efficient, Ali was always available with quick responses to questions, and the entire refi experience was seamless. The rate was competitive.
Scott T. · Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
Both Mike and Ali helped us buying and selling homes, financing and re-financing. In every transaction, they explained all the details to us. They are very experienced, professional, responsive, very quick. The last sale of our house took less than a month. They are also very good at finding best deals for financing.
Save Financial is an independent California mortgage broker, not a bank or a direct lender. Mike Basti founded the company in 2009; it holds NMLS #377740 and California DRE license #01875766 and arranges home loans in all 58 counties. The team works from offices in Newport Beach (headquarters) and Marina del Rey and serves clients by phone, email and e-signature. We shop your loan across 20+ wholesale lenders for conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo, DSCR investor, non-QM bank statement, refinance, HELOC and hard money loans, and we've closed more than 2,000 loans for self-employed borrowers. One loan officer handles your file from application to closing, and we close a typical complete file in about 18 days.
Yes. Save Financial is licensed to originate residential mortgage loans in all 58 California counties. That includes Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Riverside, San Bernardino, Fresno, Bakersfield, and every other market in the state. We track each county's loan limits, transfer tax structure, and recording timelines so your close stays on schedule.
FHA loans accept scores as low as 580 with 3.5% down. VA sets no minimum, though most lenders want 580 to 620. Conventional loans require 620+. Jumbo loans usually require 700+. DSCR investor loans typically require 660+. If your score falls below a program's minimum, Save Financial offers a free credit-improvement consult during pre-approval.
Minimum down payments by program: VA loans 0% for eligible veterans; USDA loans 0% in rural-eligible California zones; FHA loans 3.5%; Conventional 3% for first-time buyers, 5% otherwise; Jumbo from 10% (typically 10–20%); DSCR typically 20–25%. Save Financial works with CalHFA-approved lenders, so qualified borrowers can stack down payment assistance worth up to $25,000 (CalHFA MyHome) with conventional or FHA loans.
We close a standard file in about 18 days when you send documents promptly. A missing bank statement or updated pay stub adds days, and so do slow appraisers and HOA management companies that sit on paperwork. Refinances of owner-occupied homes also include the standard 3-day rescission period before funding.
A DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loan is a real estate investor mortgage that qualifies the borrower based on the rental income of the subject property rather than the borrower's personal income or tax returns. The DSCR is calculated as gross monthly rent ÷ monthly PITIA; most lenders require 1.0 or higher. Landlords, Airbnb and VRBO hosts, and self-employed investors use DSCR loans to add rentals without showing personal income.
Yes. Save Financial offers non-QM bank statement loans that qualify self-employed borrowers, gig workers, 1099 contractors, and small business owners using 12 or 24 months of personal or business bank statements instead of W-2s, tax returns, or P&L statements. Loan amounts go up to $3 million with down payments starting at 10%.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) official 2026 conforming loan limit is $832,750 for one-unit properties in most California counties and up to $1,249,125 in high-cost counties. FHFA announces 2027 limits in late November 2026, but some lenders already lend at early 2027 limits of $850,000, and up to $1,275,000 in high-cost counties including Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda and Marin. Loans above the applicable county limit are classified as jumbo loans.
Save Financial is an independent mortgage broker (NMLS #377740), not a bank. That means we shop your loan across a network of 20+ wholesale lenders and pass the pricing through to you. We back it with a written $500 Best-Price Guarantee on eligible loans (conventional conforming, FHA or VA of $200,000+): bring us a competitor's locked Loan Estimate and we match or beat it. If we can’t beat it, we pay you $500. See the $500 Guarantee terms for details.
Yes. Every Save Financial client works with one loan officer who reviews your goals, income type and timeline, then compares programs and lenders for you. The consult is free, and we don't ask for your SSN or pull credit to get started. You can request a custom rate online in about 60 seconds.
Sources: FHFA conforming loan limits · CFPB Buying a House · CalHFA · NMLS Consumer Access (#377740) · California DRE license lookup (#01875766)
By Mike Basti, President and Mortgage Broker, NMLS #322904 · Last updated
Free education from California's mortgage experts
Licensed loan officers wrote these guides to answer the questions California buyers and homeowners ask us.
Credit targets, CalHFA, MyHome and Dream For All, and each step from pre-approval to keys.
Read guide →
InvestorHow DSCR qualifies on rental income (not your taxes), the math, LLC vesting, short-term rental rules, and how investors scale 5+ properties.
Read guide →
RefinanceThe break-even rule, cash-out vs rate-and-term, and the four scenarios where refinancing is worth it (and three where it isn't).
Read guide →
Self-EmployedBank statement, P&L-only and asset depletion loans: how 1099 contractors and business owners qualify without two years of tax returns.
Read guide →
ProcessHow the two letters differ, why California sellers pass on pre-qual letters, and how to get a pre-approval within 24 hours of a complete application.
Read guide →
Reference200+ mortgage terms, from amortization to yield spread, in plain English.
Read guide →
Free tool · No signup
A California mortgage payment has four parts: principal, interest, property taxes (averaging 1.1% of home value), and homeowners insurance. Try the numbers, then get a real quote.
Your estimated monthly payment
Real people · Direct lines
Save Financial runs a small team of senior loan officers. You talk to the same person from application through closing.
Reviews · 4.9★ on Google
4.9★ across our Newport Beach and Marina del Rey offices, with 420+ verified reviews on Google, Yelp, and Zillow.
“I honestly don't know how Mike did it because he got me an amazing rate that I couldn't find anywhere else and boy did I shop around.”
“Ali with Save Financial consistently had the lowest rates and the best deal.”
“I've been in the real estate industry for 31 years and I've worked with many, many lenders and Ali stands out on top.”
SISTER BROKERAGE · BUYING A HOME?
When you buy a home through Portfolio Home Realty (Save Financial's sister real estate brokerage) and finance it with Save Financial, you receive a credit of 1% of the purchase price toward your non-recurring closing costs. On a $1.2M home, 1% is $12,000. Mike Basti owns both companies, and each holds its own license (DRE #02232009). Terms apply.
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SoCal cities served
1%
Toward closing costs
4.9★
Save Financial, 420+ client reviews
Terms apply: the 1% credit (1% of the purchase price) is offered to buyers who purchase through Portfolio Home Realty and finance with Save Financial. It is applied toward non-recurring closing costs, is funded from the buyer-side commission Portfolio Home Realty receives on the sale and paid only if that commission is received, and is subject to lender approval. It will be shown on your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure. It is not available if you finance with another lender. Portfolio Home Realty (DRE #02232009) and Save Financial, Inc. (NMLS #377740) are separately licensed businesses owned by Mike Basti, and you are not required to use either one. Ask us for our written affiliated business disclosure before you decide.
Latest insights
Our loan officers write about California rates, loan limits and lending rules, with the numbers behind each post.
A California broker's real case: a wholesaler the bank turned down closed a $1.28M loan on 12 months of bank statements, with no points.
By Mike Basti →
A fixed-rate HELOC locks the rate on what you borrow while keeping a credit line open. See how rate-lock options and costs work in California.
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The main types of non-QM loans in 2026: bank statement, P&L, asset depletion, 1099, DSCR, no-ratio and more, compared in one table.
By Mike Basti →
Save Financial is a mortgage broker with two California offices. Work directly with a licensed loan officer: Marina del Rey (Westside LA) · Newport Beach (Orange County)
Popular programs: DSCR loans · investment property loans · bank statement loans · jumbo loans · FHA loans · VA loans · HELOCs · hard money loans
