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in Artesia, CA
Most Artesia buyers face a simple fork: does your target price exceed the conforming loan limit or not? That's the line between conventional and jumbo financing.
In Los Angeles County, the 2024 conforming limit sits at $766,550 for single-family homes. Cross that threshold and you're shopping jumbo programs with different rules.
Conventional loans cap at $766,550 in Artesia. They follow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, which means predictable underwriting and competitive rates.
You can put down as little as 3% with strong credit. PMI drops off at 20% equity. These loans work well for condos, single-family homes, and investment properties up to four units.
Rate advantage matters here. Conventional loans trade on the secondary market in huge volumes, which keeps pricing tight. Lenders compete hard on these because they're easy to sell.
Jumbo loans start where conventional caps end—anything above $766,550 in Artesia. These loans don't get sold to Fannie or Freddie, so each lender sets their own rules.
Expect stricter requirements: 10-20% down minimum, credit scores above 700, and lower debt ratios. Lenders hold more risk, so they screen harder upfront.
Jumbo rates have tightened over the past two years. They used to run 0.25-0.50% higher than conventional. Now they often price within 0.125% or even match conventional on strong profiles.
Loan limits draw the clearest line. Conventional stops at $766,550. Jumbo covers everything above that with no ceiling—we've closed loans at $3 million-plus in neighboring areas.
Credit and cash requirements split next. Conventional allows 3% down with a 620 score. Jumbo typically wants 10-20% down and a 700+ score, sometimes higher for larger amounts.
PMI shows up differently. Conventional loans under 20% down carry PMI that drops off later. Jumbo loans rarely use PMI—lenders prefer larger down payments instead.
Rate differences have compressed. Conventional still edges out jumbo by a hair on average, but strong jumbo borrowers often see competitive pricing, especially at portfolio lenders.
Your purchase price decides this for you most of the time. Buying under $766,550 in Artesia? Go conventional. The rates and flexibility beat jumbo when you have the choice.
If you're shopping above that limit, jumbo is your only option. Focus on finding a lender with portfolio jumbo programs—they price better than correspondent channels on large loans.
Edge cases exist. Some borrowers put 30-40% down to stay under the conforming limit, then pull cash out later. That works if you have liquidity and want the conventional loan benefits.
Credit profile matters more on jumbo deals. A 780 score with two years of reserves gets you terms a 680 score won't touch. Clean up your credit before shopping above $766,550.
Jumbo loans start at $766,551 in Los Angeles County. Anything above the conforming limit of $766,550 requires jumbo financing.
Yes, many lenders offer 10% down jumbo programs. You'll need strong credit, typically 720+, and 12 months of reserves to qualify.
Not anymore. Strong borrowers often see jumbo rates within 0.125% of conventional. Some portfolio lenders even match conventional pricing on large loans.
It depends on your liquidity. Conventional loans offer more flexibility and easier refinancing. But don't drain reserves just to avoid a jumbo loan.
Most lenders require 700 minimum for jumbo loans. Loans above $2 million often require 720+ for best pricing and approval odds.