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Petaluma sits in Sonoma County, where home prices push many buyers toward conforming loan limits. Staying under the limit keeps your rate lower and your options wider.
HousingWire flagged the 30-year fixed hitting 6.57% recently, with applications down over 10%. For conforming borrowers, that rate still beats jumbo pricing by a meaningful margin. Rates vary by borrower profile and market conditions.
620
Min Credit Score
6.57% (market)
30-Yr Fixed (Apr 2026)
3%
Min Down Payment
45–50%
Max DTI
21–30 days
Typical Close Time
Conforming Loans in Petaluma
You need a 620 minimum credit score for most conforming loans. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set the rules — lenders follow them or they can't sell the loan.
Debt-to-income ratio matters here. Most lenders cap it at 45%, though automated underwriting can stretch to 50% with strong compensating factors like reserves.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect conforming loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Petaluma.
Petaluma sits in Sonoma County, where home prices push many buyers toward conforming loan limits. Staying under the limit keeps your rate lower and your options wider.
HousingWire flagged the 30-year fixed hitting 6.57% recently, with applications down over 10%. For conforming borrowers, that rate still beats jumbo pricing by a meaningful margin. Rates vary by borrower profile and market conditions.
You need a 620 minimum credit score for most conforming loans. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set the rules — lenders follow them or they can't sell the loan.
Every major bank, credit union, and broker offers conforming loans. That sounds like an advantage — and it is — but pricing varies more than most borrowers expect.
At SRK CAPITAL, we shop conforming rates across 200+ wholesale lenders. Retail banks quote one rate. We quote the market.
Most Petaluma buyers assume conforming is straightforward. It usually is — until your income is self-employed or your property has an ADU complicating appraisal.
Watch the loan limit carefully. If your purchase price pushes your loan just over the conforming ceiling, you jump to jumbo. That changes your rate, your reserves requirement, and your approval timeline.
FHA loans let you go to 580 credit with 3.5% down, but you pay mortgage insurance for the life of the loan. Conforming drops that insurance once you hit 20% equity.
Jumbo loans cover higher balances but demand stronger reserves and stricter underwriting. If you can stay conforming, you almost always should.
Sonoma County has a higher conforming loan limit than most California counties. That gives Petaluma buyers more room before hitting jumbo territory.
Properties here range from downtown Victorian homes to rural parcels with outbuildings. Conforming guidelines scrutinize mixed-use and agricultural characteristics — know your property type before you apply.
Sonoma County qualifies as a high-cost area, so its limit exceeds the national baseline. Check current Fannie Mae limits before assuming your loan amount qualifies.
Yes, but the appraisal gets more complex. The ADU adds income potential that lenders must account for, which can slow underwriting.
Most lenders require at least 620. Scores above 740 typically get the best pricing available.
As little as 3% for qualified first-time buyers. Most buyers putting less than 20% will pay private mortgage insurance.
Usually yes, if your credit clears 620. You avoid lifetime mortgage insurance and often get a lower rate.
Typically 21 to 30 days with complete documentation. Appraisal turnaround in Sonoma County can affect that timeline.