San Diego Home Loans

San Diego’s housing market sits at the intersection of military, biotech, and tourism — three pillars that keep demand constant and inventory tight. Median home prices hover around $900,000 countywide, but that range stretches from $600K condos in Chula Vista to $2M+ properties in La Jolla, Del Mar, and Rancho Santa Fe. North County communities like Carlsbad, Oceanside, and San Marcos attract families priced out of the coastal core, while East County areas like El Cajon and Santee remain some of the most affordable options in the region.

San Diego is also one of the most military-dense metros in the country. Naval Base San Diego, Camp Pendleton, MCRD, MCAS Miramar, and Naval Base Point Loma put tens of thousands of active-duty service members and veterans within county lines. VA loan usage here is among the highest in California.

Loan Programs Available in San Diego

• FHA Loans — 3.5% down, with San Diego County’s FHA limit at $879,750 — high enough to cover a significant chunk of the market
• VA Loans — Zero down payment, no PMI. San Diego’s military community makes VA loans one of the most-used programs in the county
• Conventional Loans — Up to the $879,750 conforming limit in San Diego County, with fixed and ARM options
• Jumbo Loans — Required for coastal San Diego, La Jolla, Carmel Valley, and North County beachfront properties that exceed conforming limits
• Bank Statement Loans — For San Diego’s growing self-employed population in biotech, tourism, real estate, and small business
• DSCR Investment Loans — Qualify on rental income for investment properties across the county

San Diego Housing Market

The coastal neighborhoods — Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, and Mission Beach — stay competitive year-round thanks to limited buildable land and consistently strong rental demand. La Jolla and Del Mar are firmly in jumbo territory, where properties routinely exceed $2M. Carmel Valley and Scripps Ranch draw move-up buyers who want good schools and newer construction without paying beach premiums.

North County has seen some of the fastest appreciation in the metro. Oceanside and Vista, once considered the affordable alternative, now have median prices pushing $800K. Carlsbad and Encinitas have been above $1M for years. Fallbrook and Temecula (just across the county line in Riverside) still offer relative value but are climbing fast.

San Diego’s biotech corridor — anchored by Torrey Pines, Sorrento Valley, and University City — generates high incomes but also a lot of non-traditional earners. Contract researchers, startup founders, and consultants who cycle between companies often have income profiles that work better with bank statement programs than conventional documentation.

Why Buyers in San Diego Choose 1st Nationwide

• VA loan specialists — With Camp Pendleton, Naval Base San Diego, MCRD, and Miramar all within the county, we process more VA loans here than almost anywhere else. We know the COE process, VA funding fees, and how BAH factors into qualification.
• Biotech and startup lending — San Diego’s life sciences industry produces high earners with complicated income — stock options, contract work, variable bonuses. We know how to document it.
• Jumbo for coastal properties — La Jolla, Del Mar, Coronado, and Encinitas regularly exceed conforming limits. We handle jumbo purchases and refinances for these high-value markets daily.
• Investment property expertise — San Diego’s rental demand is driven by military transfers, students, and young professionals. DSCR loans let investors acquire properties based on what they rent for, not personal tax returns.

Get Started

Call us at (833) 350-9185 or apply online. Whether you’re using a VA benefit, qualifying on bank statements, or financing a rental property, we’ll get you to the right program fast.