Where can I get a first-time buyer loan near me in Newport Beach?

Our Newport Beach office at 4000 MacArthur Blvd, Suite 600, Newport Beach, CA 92660 helps Orange County first-time buyers. Save Financial is a licensed California mortgage broker (NMLS #377740, DRE #01875766) and a CalHFA-approved lender, and we compare Conventional 97, FHA, and assistance programs for you. Call (949) 379-5320.

How much down payment do I need as a first-time buyer in OC?

As little as 3% on Conventional 97 or 3.5% on FHA, and the entire down payment can be a documented family gift — which stretches a lot further in an expensive market like Orange County.

Who qualifies as a first-time buyer?

Usually anyone who hasn't owned a primary residence in the last three years — so many repeat renters and past owners still qualify for first-time programs.

What credit score do I need to buy my first home?

Program-dependent: FHA opens at 580, Conventional 97 generally wants higher, and CalHFA Dream For All assistance requires 680. We fit the program to your credit.

Is there down-payment help for OC first-time buyers?

Frequently, yes. We're a CalHFA-approved lender, so we can add California assistance — including Dream For All (680+ score) — to your loan where you're eligible, confirmed before you make an offer.

Conventional 97 or FHA — which is better for me?

Conventional 97 (3% down) suits stronger credit and lets PMI fall off later; FHA (3.5% down) is more forgiving on credit but carries MIP. We compare both on your actual numbers.

Are you a bank or a broker?

We're an independent mortgage broker (NMLS #377740, DRE #01875766) and a CalHFA-approved lender — we shop many lenders to match your first purchase instead of selling one bank's loans.

Which Orange County areas do you serve from this office?

All of Orange County and beyond — including Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Balboa Island, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Huntington Beach, and more — plus every California county.

First-Time Buyer · Newport Beach, CA

First-Time Home Buyer Loans in Newport Beach — Low-Down Programs from a Local Broker

First-time buyers in Newport Beach can start with as little as 3% down (Conventional 97) or 3.5% down (FHA), use 100% gift funds, and add CalHFA down-payment assistance where eligible. Save Financial (NMLS #377740), a local broker and CalHFA-approved lender at 4000 MacArthur Blvd, Suite 600, matches you to the right first-time program. Call (949) 379-5320.

Plenty of Orange County renters assume they need 20% down to buy their first home. They don't. A first-time buyer can start at 3% down on a Conventional 97 loan or 3.5% on FHA, with the entire down payment allowed as a family gift — and CalHFA assistance (Dream For All requires a 680 score) can cover much of what's left. Suddenly a Costa Mesa condo or a Tustin townhome is within reach. What OC first-timers really need is someone to line up the right program, and that's the job of a local broker.

Looking for a First-Time Buyer Loan Near You in Newport Beach?

Our Orange County home office lets a first-time buyer sit down in person with a licensed loan officer, get pre-approved, and see exactly which low-down program — and which assistance — puts a home within reach. No distant call center.

Save Financial — Newport Beach office
4000 MacArthur Blvd, Suite 600, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Phone: (949) 379-5320
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM–2:00 PM (Sunday closed) PT

The office is in the Newport Center / airport area just off MacArthur and Jamboree, with easy access from the 73 toll road and the 405. We serve Orange County first-time buyers from our Newport Beach office across the neighborhoods below.

Areas We Serve Near Our Newport Beach Office

Here is how first-time programs tend to fit for buyers across the areas we cover from Newport Beach:

Newport Beach: first-time buyers reaching the market with low-down programs.
Corona del Mar: renters buying their first home with gift-funded down payments.
Balboa Island: first purchases on eligible properties with 3–3.5% down.
Costa Mesa: first-time buyers near South Coast using CalHFA assistance.
Irvine: first-time condo and townhome buyers where the project qualifies.
Huntington Beach: Surf City first-timers using Conventional 97 or FHA.
Laguna Beach: first coastal purchases with low-down financing.
Tustin: family-neighborhood first purchases with small down payments.
Newport Coast: higher-priced first homes structured with the right program.

These are service areas of our Newport Beach office, not separate offices.

How First-Time Buyer Loans Work

You generally count as a first-time buyer if you haven't owned a primary residence in the past three years. The two workhorse low-down loans are Conventional 97 (as little as 3% down) and FHA (3.5% down at a 580 score). With either, 100% of the down payment can be a documented gift from family.

Because Save Financial is a CalHFA-approved lender, we can also add California down-payment assistance where you're eligible — including Dream For All (a 680 score is required). For a lot of Orange County first-timers, that assistance is the piece that makes the numbers work.

The right answer depends on your credit, your savings, and the home you're targeting — and as a broker we compare all of these paths for you instead of pushing one product.

Common First-Time Buyer Scenarios in Orange County

An OC renter with solid credit and 3% saved buying a Costa Mesa condo on Conventional 97.
A buyer receiving the entire down payment as a documented family gift.
A first-timer with a mid-600s score using FHA to get in the door.
A 680+ buyer adding CalHFA Dream For All assistance to a Tustin purchase.
A couple buying their first Irvine townhome on an eligible project.

Are You Ready to Buy Your First Home?

You haven't owned a primary home in the past three years.
You've saved 3–3.5% down, or you're receiving gift funds for it.
Your credit starts in the high-500s or up — we'll fit the loan to it.
You want us to check California assistance, including Dream For All (requires 680+).

Conventional 97 vs. FHA vs. CalHFA Assistance

Most first-time buyers land on one of these three paths. Here's how they compare:

For a Orange County first-timer	Conventional 97	FHA	CalHFA assistance
Minimum down	As low as 3%	3.5% (580+ FICO)	Can cover much of the down payment
Credit	Typically higher	580+ (500–579 with 10% down)	Dream For All requires 680+
Mortgage insurance	PMI (can drop off later)	Upfront + annual MIP	Depends on the first loan
Down-payment gift	100% can be a documented gift	100% can be a gift	Per program rules
Best for	Stronger credit, small savings	Lower credit or thin files	Orange County buyers needing help with the down payment

There's no single 'best' — it depends on your credit and cash. We'll price all three and show you the trade-offs before you decide.

Why Work With a Local Newport Beach Mortgage Broker?

First-time buyers have the most to gain from good advice and the most to lose from bad structure. As a broker, Save Financial compares Conventional 97, FHA, and CalHFA assistance across multiple lenders, and our office is in Orange County, so we know local prices, the OC market, and how to make a first-time offer competitive.

Come in, get pre-approved, and get plain-English answers from a licensed local loan officer. Call the Newport Beach office directly at (949) 379-5320.

How to Buy Your First Home with Save Financial

Share your Orange County price range, your savings or gift funds, and your rough credit. Call (949) 379-5320 or start online.
We match you to Conventional 97, FHA, or CalHFA assistance and check Dream For All eligibility.
We compare lenders, secure your terms, and hand you a pre-approval.
You write an offer in Costa Mesa, Irvine, or the coast, and we drive it to closing.

Serving Newport Beach: Save Financial arranges these loans in Newport Beach and across Orange County from our Newport Beach office. We are a California-licensed mortgage brokerage (NMLS #377740, DRE #01875766), Equal Housing Opportunity, and shop multiple lenders for your best terms. This page is informational and not a commitment to lend; all loans are subject to credit approval, income and property review, and program availability. Call 949-379-5320 or apply online.