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Monte Sereno sits in one of Silicon Valley's most expensive zip codes. Homes here routinely push past conforming loan limits.
Most buyers need a jumbo or high-balance conventional loan. Standard conforming limits won't cover most purchases in this city.
~6.57%
30-Year Fixed (Apr 2026)
620
Min Credit Score
3%
Min Down Payment
Below 20% down
PMI Threshold
Conventional Loans in Monte Sereno
Conventional loans require a minimum 620 credit score. Most lenders competing for Monte Sereno borrowers want 740 or higher.
Down payments start at 3% for conforming loans. Anything below 20% triggers private mortgage insurance, or PMI.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect conventional loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Monte Sereno.
Monte Sereno sits in one of Silicon Valley's most expensive zip codes. Homes here routinely push past conforming loan limits.
Most buyers need a jumbo or high-balance conventional loan. Standard conforming limits won't cover most purchases in this city.
Conventional loans require a minimum 620 credit score. Most lenders competing for Monte Sereno borrowers want 740 or higher.
Retail banks rarely offer the sharpest pricing on conventional loans. Wholesale lenders we access often beat bank rates by 0.25% or more.
HousingWire flagged the 30-year fixed hitting 6.57% with applications dropping over 10%. Rate shopping across lenders matters more right now for Monte Sereno buyers.
Monte Sereno buyers tend to be tech executives or business owners with complex income. W-2 income is easy. RSUs and K-1s take more structuring.
We see a lot of buyers here who over-qualify on assets but show low taxable income. The right lender knows how to read that file.
At Monte Sereno price points, conventional loans often lose to jumbo loans on rate. Jumbo lenders compete hard for high-credit borrowers in affluent markets.
FHA loans cap out well below local home prices. They're not a realistic option for most buyers here. ARMs can cut the rate when buyers plan to sell within 7 years.
Monte Sereno is a small, mostly residential city with very low inventory. Sellers hold leverage. Clean pre-approvals matter more than anywhere else.
Santa Clara County's high-balance conforming limit raises the ceiling for conventional financing. But many homes here still require jumbo loans to close.
Yes, but most homes here exceed standard conforming limits. You'll likely need a high-balance or jumbo conventional loan.
Lenders require 620 minimum. To get competitive rates in this market, aim for 740 or above.
No. You can put down as little as 3%. Below 20%, you'll pay PMI until you reach that equity threshold.
RSUs can count as income, but lenders handle them differently. Vesting history and continuity matter most to underwriters.
Often yes. Jumbo lenders compete hard for strong borrowers at these price points. We compare both before recommending one.