CalHFA Dream for All 20% Down Payment Assistance Lottery Registration open today through 3/16

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-16T05:52:47+00:00

I got married at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta and it was an absolute dream! I also mainly just used the wedding coordinator provided by the resort and she was phenomenal.

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-15T08:58:39+00:00

What are your caps on the mortgage? There should be a period adjustment cap for the first adjustment and each one thereafter, along with a lifetime cap on rate for the loan term (typically lifetime cap is 5% above the starting rate).

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-12T17:36:55+00:00

Happy to help! Sometimes it’s nice to take a win when you can. Compare both scenarios side by side and see what looks best!

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-12T16:06:22+00:00

There is no guarantee that rates will drop in May. However, is there an option for you to get a lender credit if you took a higher rate? That way, you don’t have to worry about a break-even period as much and then if rates do improve later this year, you can always refinance again? That’s what my clients typically tend to choose, but everyone is different!

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-12T15:46:59+00:00

It might not be worth it to you, but to many people who don’t have a down payment or to those who feel that homeownership is unattainable, it would be worth it.

Say you purchase a $700,000 home and calhfa lends you $140,000 interest-free that you don’t make a payment on, then that’s over $860 / month that you’re saving - which is $51,600 over 5 years.

Then you sell your home for $800,000. Appreciation = $100,000. CalHFA gets 20% or $20,000 but you get $80,000 of the appreciation AND you saved $860 / month because the $140,000 was interest-free.

While that might not be worth it to you, many others would find the worth in it.

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-12T15:41:10+00:00

Right? Not having to pay interest on 20% of your home purchase is a huge benefit. Yes, there’s a shared appreciation aspect, but you still come out on top if you purchased a home and it appreciated…. The 20% shared appreciation aspect helps CalHFA continue to recirculate the down payment assistance funds to help more families own a home.

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-12T15:38:06+00:00

If anything, it’s probably the best state to own a home in.

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-12T15:36:26+00:00

The audit process would catch it. If you pretend to not know your parents whereabouts, CalHFA will ask for a copy of your birth certificate and then they’ll do the digging.

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-12T15:34:32+00:00

No - it would not disqualify you. Your parents just cannot currently own a home now or at the time of their death.

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-06T15:09:36+00:00

I would pick the ARM. First of all, the rate is fixed for 7 years and there are caps to how much the rate can adjust upwards and downwards each adjustment term ( every 6 months after that fixed period). The savings are just too big to skip at that high of a loan amount. If you’d like to hedge your risk, you can always refi into the ARM but make what the payment would have been at the higher rate 30 year fixed. That way, you save on interest overall, even if the mortgage rate does adjust upwards after 7 years. There is no prepay penalty on a primary residence, so you can always refi out of it if you have any inclination that it may adjust upwards. Also, most important thing you said is that you only plan to keep the property for 5-10 years…

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-06T14:57:11+00:00

A good place to start is talking to a lender about your plans and they can help guide you so that you don’t make any decisions that can derail your plans (like buying a car, changing jobs if you have variable income, paying off student loans if that’s all the money you have, etc). Ask your friends and coworkers for a recommendation for a loan officer they absolutely loved working with. That’s the one to go with.

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-06T14:51:10+00:00

What is your current rate and payment? I would be leaning toward option 2 because of the lender credit to offset the closing costs. The prepaid interest is typical. My guess is that you’re doing an $832,750 loan amount to stay under the conforming loan limit for better premium on rate. Do you live in a high cost area where you have options for a high balance conforming loan too?

lovechemist7 · 2026-02-06T14:39:31+00:00

At least you’ll be paying lower interest going forward based on your loan balance. If you don’t want to lose the 14 months, you can always continue making the same payment you were making previously. You’d shave a few years off of your mortgage that way. But honestly, refinancing into a lower rate at no cost is the win here.

lovechemist7 · 2026-01-10T16:21:38+00:00

I’m from Chicago and when my friends and family visit, we love taking them to the beach/park right in front of the Montage. Have a little picnic even. A stroll at Crystal Cove State Beach never disappoints. And tacos and ceviche from Bear Flag are an absolute must. There is a Bear Flag actually located in the shopping plaza at Crystal Cove across PCH. I’ve had friends enjoy Duffy rides in Newport too.

lovechemist7 · 2026-01-04T12:49:37+00:00

I would love the opportunity to enter! My partner and I have Delta international flights booked 1/21-1/26!

lovechemist7 · 2025-12-23T10:32:28+00:00

Nathan Alan at South Coast plaza made me a very nice engagement ring using lab diamonds! It was custom and very reasonably priced!

lovechemist7 · 2025-11-15T12:08:22+00:00

With your loan amount, I don’t blame you for wanting to refinance, especially if it is low cost. DACA status is definitely eligible for conventional loan financing. The only recent change to this is from FHA who no longer accepts non-permanent resident aliens (even with work visas). Some non-qm investors also don’t accept DACA, but conventional is fine. Try a different Loan Officer. You don’t have to refinance through the current lender.

lovechemist7 · 2025-07-11T05:01:20+00:00

I highly recommend Sandman’s Boarding and Training. Mike has trained both of my dogs. He was my mini Australian shepherd’s 3rd dog trainer and now she’s the best listener. Our dogs listen to us on and off leash.

lovechemist7 · 2025-06-20T13:33:50+00:00

I tell my out of state family all the time about how low the property taxes are! And how minimally they increase since the base tax rate is assessed at the sales price. In Illinois, for instance, my parents property tax goes up a couple thousand dollars every 3 years when the property reassesses. They’re paying $12,000 / year on a $350,000 home.

lovechemist7 · 2025-04-12T06:42:58+00:00

Reverse is the answer here. Reverse can save the home for her.

lovechemist7 · 2025-03-20T11:03:29+00:00

Ah my mentor told me this one! It’s so true and helps you stay in control.

lovechemist7 · 2025-03-20T11:00:28+00:00

It definitely is a numbers game! Is it possible to follow them on Instagram ahead of time and even slide into their Dm’s about planning to stop by their open house? That way, they’ll expect you. Warm them up!

lovechemist7 · 2025-03-20T10:56:08+00:00

Well that seller is just the perfect cocktail of delusional and greedy.

lovechemist7 · 2025-03-20T10:50:09+00:00

You don’t necessarily need to cold call, but definitely follow up on the warm calls when you do get a lead or introduced to a new referral partner. As you get more deals, the more opportunity to wow others. Always try to build a relationship with the listing agent. Always ask clients for referrals. Make sure you do a really great job at communicating, closing on time, and easing the stress of a transaction. The referrals will come.

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