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in La Mirada, CA
La Mirada sits where LA County meets Orange County, with home prices spanning both conventional and jumbo territory. The $806,500 conforming limit in LA County determines which loan you need.
Most La Mirada properties stay under the conforming limit, making conventional loans the default. But larger homes and renovated properties often push into jumbo range, requiring different qualification standards.
Conventional loans work for purchases up to $806,500 in LA County. You can put down as little as 3% with decent credit, though 5% gets better rates and PMI terms.
Credit minimums start at 620 for some programs, but most competitive pricing requires 680 or higher. Reserve requirements are lighter—usually two months for single-family homes with standard down payments.
These loans follow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, which means predictable underwriting. Most lenders price them the same way, so rate shopping matters but won't uncover huge spreads.
Jumbo loans kick in above $806,500 in LA County. These exceed what Fannie and Freddie will buy, so lenders hold more risk and tighten requirements accordingly.
Expect to put down at least 10%, often 20% for best pricing. Credit needs to be 700 minimum, realistically 720+ for competitive rates. Most lenders want 6-12 months reserves depending on loan size.
Each lender prices jumbos differently based on their portfolio appetite. We see rate spreads of 0.5% or more between lenders on the same scenario, making broker access to multiple investors critical.
The $806,500 threshold is the bright line. Under that, you get conventional's easier qualification and standardized pricing. Over it, you need stronger financials and the rate landscape gets less predictable.
Down payment and reserves tell the real story. Conventional accepts 3-5% down with two months reserves. Jumbo wants 10-20% down with six months minimum, often twelve for larger loans.
Credit matters more on jumbos. A 680 score gets you approved conventional but prices you out of competitive jumbo rates. You need 720+ to access the jumbo rate tiers that make these loans pencil.
Your purchase price decides this. Under $806,500, conventional wins on flexibility and cost. Over that, jumbo is your only option—focus on finding a broker with multiple jumbo investors.
Close to the limit, sometimes paying slightly over works better than stretching to stay under. If you're at $820,000, the jumbo requirements might beat a conventional plus second mortgage structure.
La Mirada buyers in the $750,000-$850,000 range should get quoted both ways. Conventional maxed out versus jumbo with 15% down can price surprisingly close depending on credit profile and current investor appetite.
$806,500 for LA County in 2024. Above that requires a jumbo loan with different qualification standards and pricing.
Most jumbo lenders require 10% minimum, with 20% down unlocking better rates. Few investors will go below 10% on jumbo mortgages.
Not always. With strong credit and reserves, jumbo rates can match or beat conventional. Rate differences vary by market conditions and lender appetite.
Typically 6-12 months of mortgage payments in liquid assets. Larger loan amounts usually require reserves on the higher end of that range.
Sometimes. An 80-10-10 structure can work near the conforming limit, but total cost depends on second mortgage rates and your credit profile.
Jumbo loans stay in each lender's portfolio instead of selling to Fannie or Freddie. Each institution prices based on their own risk appetite and liquidity needs.