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Windsor sits in Sonoma County wine country — a market full of self-employed buyers, investors, and non-traditional earners. Standard loans reject a lot of deals here that portfolio ARMs can close.
HousingWire flagged a 10.4% drop in mortgage applications as the 30-year fixed hit 6.57%. ARM demand is shifting — and portfolio ARMs are where serious borrowers are looking.
620–680
Min Credit Score
5/1 or 7/1
Common ARM Structure
Non-QM
QM Status
No conforming cap
Loan Limit
Often 1%+ lower at start
Rate vs. 30yr Fixed
Portfolio ARMs in Windsor
Portfolio ARMs are non-QM loans. Lenders keep them in-house instead of selling them — so they set their own guidelines, not Fannie Mae's.
Expect credit score minimums around 620 to 680 depending on the lender. Down payments vary widely. Income docs can be flexible — bank statements, asset depletion, or full P&Ls all work with the right lender.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect portfolio arms eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Windsor.
Windsor sits in Sonoma County wine country — a market full of self-employed buyers, investors, and non-traditional earners. Standard loans reject a lot of deals here that portfolio ARMs can close.
HousingWire flagged a 10.4% drop in mortgage applications as the 30-year fixed hit 6.57%. ARM demand is shifting — and portfolio ARMs are where serious borrowers are looking.
Portfolio ARMs are non-QM loans. Lenders keep them in-house instead of selling them — so they set their own guidelines, not Fannie Mae's.
You won't find portfolio ARMs at every bank. Retail lenders rarely offer them. This is wholesale territory — smaller specialty lenders who hold loans on their own books.
We have access to 200+ wholesale lenders at SRK CAPITAL. That reach matters here. One lender's portfolio ARM won't look like another's — rate caps, adjustment periods, and doc requirements all differ.
The pitch on ARMs is simple: you pay less at the start. A portfolio ARM can beat a 30-year fixed by a full point or more at origination. Rates vary by borrower profile and market conditions.
The risk is rate movement after the initial fixed period. Know your adjustment caps before you sign. Most portfolio ARMs have a 5/1 or 7/1 structure — fixed for 5 or 7 years, then adjusting annually.
A conventional ARM follows Fannie Mae rules. A portfolio ARM doesn't. That means looser income requirements, higher loan amounts, and terms tailored to your deal — not a government checklist.
DSCR loans suit investors with rental income. Bank statement loans target the self-employed. Portfolio ARMs can overlap both — and sometimes beat them on rate when the lender likes the deal.
Windsor has a mix of primary residences, rental properties, and wine-country retreats. Portfolio ARMs work across all three — especially for buyers who don't fit a W-2 income mold.
Sonoma County property values run high enough that loan size matters. Portfolio lenders aren't bound by conforming limits. That gives you room conventional programs won't.
The lender keeps it on their own books instead of selling it. That means they set the rules — not Fannie or Freddie.
Yes. Portfolio lenders often allow investment properties. Terms vary by lender and deal structure.
Your rate changes based on an index plus a margin. Rate caps limit how much it can move per adjustment and over the loan's life.
Not always. Many portfolio lenders accept bank statements or asset depletion instead of tax returns.
Often yes. You get the lower initial rate and sell before the first adjustment. That's one of the strongest use cases.
They're mostly wholesale — not retail. A broker with wide wholesale access is the most efficient way to compare options.