PURCHASE · SAN FRANCISCO
Home Purchase Loans in San Francisco — Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo
Home purchase loans in San Francisco cover every path a buyer needs in one of the country's most expensive markets. San Francisco sits in San Francisco County, where the 2026 conforming limit and the FHA limit are both $1,249,125 for a one-unit home — the top tier California allows. Save Financial originates the full menu: conventional and high-balance conforming up to $1,249,125, FHA up to $1,249,125, VA (no county cap on full entitlement), and jumbo financing above $1,249,125. Because the citywide median hovers near $1,440,000, a large share of single-family purchases in Noe Valley, Pacific Heights, and the Marina still cross the conforming line into jumbo territory, while condos in SoMa and TIC units in the Mission open the door to more accessible entry points. San Francisco is also a tech-workforce city, so many buyers arrive with base salary plus RSU and equity compensation that needs careful documentation. Down payment options run from 0% (VA with full entitlement) to 3% (Conventional 97), 3.5% (FHA), and 10%–20% on jumbo with no PMI. Common SF buyer profiles include first-time condo buyers, move-up families chasing single-family homes in the Sunset and the Richmond, and equity-rich tech employees purchasing in Bernal Heights.
QUICK ANSWER
Save Financial originates purchase loans for San Francisco County buyers from our California-licensed brokerage (NMLS #377740). SF purchase scenarios turn on price point and property type. At or under $1,249,125: conventional, high-balance conforming, FHA, or VA. Above $1,249,125: jumbo through one of 14+ lenders. For condos, we run the HOA project review; for TIC units in the Mission or the Castro, we use fractional TIC financing. For self-employed founders and equity-heavy tech income, non-QM bank statement and asset-based programs fill the gap. Get a custom San Francisco purchase quote in about 60 seconds, or call (949) 379-5320.
Why San Francisco is different
San Francisco is a compact, seven-by-seven-mile market where property type matters as much as price. Four SF-specific factors shape a purchase:
SF County conforming and FHA limits: Both sit at $1,249,125 for one-unit homes in 2026 — the highest bracket in the state. Homes financed at or under that figure can access conforming or high-balance conforming pricing, typically sharper than true jumbo. But with a median around $1,440,000, plenty of single-family buys still land above the line.
Condo project review: Much of SF's for-sale supply is condos in SoMa, Hayes Valley, and Mission Bay. Conventional and FHA loans require a warrantable-project review — HOA reserves, delinquency rates, owner-occupancy, and litigation checks. Save Financial screens the building early so a condo file does not stall at underwriting.
Tenancy-in-common (TIC) financing: TICs are a uniquely San Francisco structure, common in the Mission, the Castro, and older Richmond and Sunset two-to-six-unit buildings. They use fractional loans rather than standard mortgages. We place TIC files with the handful of lenders that offer them and set expectations on rate and down payment upfront.
Tech and RSU income: A San Francisco buyer's offer often rests on base pay plus vesting RSUs and stock. Documenting that income correctly — vesting schedules, sale history, and reserves — is the difference between an approval and a decline, and not every lender reads it the same way.
Get started with Save Financial
Save Financial is licensed in all 58 California counties (NMLS #377740, DRE #01875766) with a dedicated San Francisco purchase practice. We originate every loan type covered here through wholesale lender channels, which lets us shop pricing across dozens of investors instead of quoting a single bank's sheet.
To get a real San Francisco rate quote in 60 seconds (no SSN, no credit pull, no obligation), apply online or call 949-379-5320. You will be connected with a California-licensed loan officer who knows SF condo and TIC nuances in detail.
For broader city information, see our San Francisco overview page. For the parent program details on home purchase loans, see our home purchase loans program page.
— SF FAQ
San Francisco home purchase loan questions, answered
What's special about home purchase loans in San Francisco?
San Francisco sits in San Francisco County, where the 2026 conforming and FHA loan limits are both $1,249,125 for one-unit homes — the highest tier California allows. Because the citywide median is roughly $1,440,000, a large share of SF purchases still cross into jumbo territory above $1,249,125. Condos and tenancy-in-common (TIC) units make up much of the city's for-sale inventory, and each carries its own review: HOA budget and owner-occupancy checks for condos, and fractional-loan structures for TICs. Save Financial matches each SF buyer to conforming, high-balance, FHA, VA, or jumbo financing based on price point, property type, and neighborhood.
How does Save Financial price San Francisco loans vs. major banks?
Save Financial is a broker, not a retail bank, so we shop wholesale pricing across 40+ investors on conforming, high-balance, and jumbo San Francisco loans rather than carrying branch overhead. For SF tech buyers with RSU and equity income, that means we can place the file with the lender whose guidelines actually fit the income structure instead of forcing it into one bank's box.
What is San Francisco County's 2026 conforming loan limit?
San Francisco County's 2026 conforming loan limit is $1,249,125 for one-unit properties, and the FHA limit matches it at $1,249,125. Loans at or under that amount can qualify for conforming or high-balance conforming pricing. Loans above $1,249,125 in San Francisco are true jumbo loans.
How fast can Save Financial close a San Francisco mortgage?
Save Financial closes San Francisco purchases efficiently when documentation is complete. The fastest closes happen when buyers have pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, bank statements, RSU vesting schedules, and any condo HOA or TIC documents ready at application. Complete files move faster and give SF offers a competitive edge.
Do you lend across all San Francisco neighborhoods?
Yes. Save Financial originates purchase loans in every San Francisco neighborhood and ZIP code — Noe Valley, the Sunset, the Richmond, the Mission, Pacific Heights, SoMa, Bernal Heights, the Marina, Hayes Valley, and beyond — and everywhere else in San Francisco County.
Can I finance a condo or TIC in San Francisco?
Yes. Condos are financed with conventional, FHA, VA, or jumbo loans, subject to a project review of the HOA budget, reserves, and owner-occupancy ratio. Tenancy-in-common (TIC) units — common in the Mission, the Castro, and older SoMa and Richmond buildings — are financed with fractional TIC loans through specialty lenders. Save Financial originates both and will tell you upfront which structure a given SF building supports.