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Fixed rates have been punishing buyers. HousingWire flagged ARM demand shifting as the 30-year fixed hit 6.57% — and Portfolio ARMs are exactly where that shift lands.
In a smaller market like Chowchilla, not every deal fits a conventional box. Portfolio ARMs give lenders room to write loans they actually hold — which means more flexibility for you.
Adjustable (ARM)
Rate Type
Varies by lender
Min Credit Score
Non-QM / Portfolio
Loan Category
3, 5, or 7 years
Fixed Period Options
Not sold — lender holds
Secondary Market
Portfolio ARMs in Chowchilla
Portfolio ARMs are non-QM loans. Lenders aren't selling them, so they don't have to follow Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac guidelines.
That means credit requirements vary by lender. Some will work with scores in the 600s. Self-employed borrowers and investors get more options here than with conventional loans.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect portfolio arms eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Chowchilla.
Fixed rates have been punishing buyers. HousingWire flagged ARM demand shifting as the 30-year fixed hit 6.57% — and Portfolio ARMs are exactly where that shift lands.
In a smaller market like Chowchilla, not every deal fits a conventional box. Portfolio ARMs give lenders room to write loans they actually hold — which means more flexibility for you.
Portfolio ARMs are non-QM loans. Lenders aren't selling them, so they don't have to follow Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac guidelines.
Most retail banks don't offer Portfolio ARMs. You need a broker with access to wholesale portfolio lenders — there aren't many on every street corner.
At SRK CAPITAL, we work with 200+ wholesale lenders. That access matters here. Portfolio ARM terms swing widely between lenders. Rate, margin, caps — it all varies.
The rate starts lower than a fixed loan. That's the point. If your plan is a 5-7 year hold, you capture that lower payment and exit before the adjustments bite.
Where I see this blow up: buyers who plan to hold long-term but take a short ARM to qualify. Don't do that. Know your exit before you sign.
DSCR loans work for rental investors who want income-based qualifying. Portfolio ARMs work better when the property cash flow is thin but the borrower's profile is strong.
Bank Statement loans solve income documentation. Portfolio ARMs solve rate and term flexibility. Sometimes you need both — that's when a hybrid portfolio product comes in.
Chowchilla sits in Madera County — agricultural land, rural residential, and light commercial deals are common here. Many of those don't fit agency loan boxes.
Portfolio lenders are built for exactly that. Rural parcels, mixed-use properties, or borrowers with farm income — all of these find a better home in a portfolio product.
The lender keeps it instead of selling it. That means they can set their own terms, credit requirements, and property guidelines.
Yes. Portfolio lenders often welcome investor deals. Rural and agricultural properties in Madera County are a common fit.
It varies. Common structures are 3/1, 5/1, or 7/1 ARMs. The first number is your fixed-rate period in years.
It depends on the lender. Some portfolio lenders go as low as the mid-600s. Stronger assets help offset lower scores.
They carry rate risk after the fixed period ends. Caps limit how much the rate moves, but you need a clear plan for that adjustment window.