FHA Loan in 2026: 3.5% Down, 580 Credit — What It Actually Costs Per Month
A $700,000 house. 3.5% down. 580 credit. What does that actually cost you every month? That’s the question this post answers — with the full payment, not the teaser number. Principal, interest, tax, insurance, and the mortgage insurance FHA charges. All of it, at $600,000, $700,000, and $800,000. What you need to qualify Requirement FHA […]
Down Payment Assistance in California: Every Program Worth Knowing in 2026
You don’t need 20% down to buy a house in California. You might not need 3.5% either. There are programs that hand you the down payment — some as a grant you never repay, some as a loan you repay when you sell or refinance, some forgiven after a few months. The problem is that […]
How Much Do I Need to Make to Afford a $700,000 House in California?
You asked me this question more than any other. On Instagram, in my DMs, at open houses. “Dat, how much do I need to make to buy a $700,000 house?” Here’s the straight answer: about $185,000 a year — with 10% down, at today’s rates, using the debt-to-income ratio most lenders actually apply. But that […]
Should You Pay Points to Buy Down Your Rate — or Wait?
If you’re waiting for rates to drop before you buy, I get it. The 30-year fixed averaged 7.18% for the week ending November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey), and the 30-year FHA rate averaged about 6.94% on November 6, 2026 (Mortgage Reports). That’s the market we’re in. Complaining about it doesn’t change […]