San Diego Mortgage Broker — Home Loans and VA Financing
San Diego County has one of the largest military populations in the country and a conforming loan limit that sits between the baseline and the ceiling. Both facts change how your loan should be structured.
San Diego Mortgage Broker — Mango Stock Mortgage
San Diego combines two things that rarely appear together: a very large VA-eligible population and coastal California pricing. Mango Stock Mortgage is licensed by the California DFPI to arrange home loans throughout San Diego County, from Chula Vista to Oceanside, with particular attention to military buyers and the county’s unusual loan limit.
What Makes Financing in San Diego Different
San Diego County does not sit at the high-cost ceiling. Its 2026 conforming limit is $1,104,100 — an intermediate tier between the $832,750 baseline and the $1,249,125 ceiling. Plenty of online sources get this wrong and quote the ceiling figure, which leads buyers to assume conforming financing is available at price points where it is not. The second distinguishing factor is VA volume: with Navy and Marine Corps installations across the county, a substantial share of San Diego purchases are VA loans, and VA has its own rules — including no county loan limit at all for buyers with full entitlement.
San Diego Loan Programs
VA Loans
Zero down, no mortgage insurance, and no county loan limit for full-entitlement buyers — which in San Diego is often the strongest option available.
Military Relocation & PCS
Timing a purchase around orders, and structuring around BAH and deployment schedules.
FHA Loans
3.5% down for buyers who are not VA-eligible, with San Diego County FHA limits well above the national floor.
Condo Financing
Downtown, Mission Valley and coastal condo projects, including VA-approved project requirements.
Jumbo Loans
Above $1,104,100 in San Diego County you are into jumbo — a lower threshold than LA or the Bay Area.
DSCR Investor Loans
Qualify San Diego rental property on its own income, including short-term rental markets near the coast.
VA Loans Are Not All the Same
VA is a government guarantee, not a government loan — the actual terms come from the lender, and they vary. Rate, fee structure, condo project approval and how quickly a file moves all differ between lenders. In a market with this much VA volume, that spread is worth shopping.
San Diego Neighborhoods and Areas We Serve
- Downtown & Little Italy — High-rise condo inventory; project approval status determines what is financeable.
- North Park, South Park & Normal Heights — Older craftsman stock, strong first-time buyer demand.
- La Jolla & Del Mar — Coastal jumbo territory well above the county conforming limit.
- Chula Vista & South Bay — More attainable pricing and heavy FHA and VA use.
- Oceanside, Carlsbad & Vista — North County coastal; significant Camp Pendleton-adjacent VA activity.
- Escondido & Inland North County — Larger lots, more value per square foot, some USDA-eligible areas nearby.
San Diego Housing Market and Loan Limits
San Diego County’s 2026 conforming loan limit is $1,104,100 for a one-unit property — above the $832,750 California baseline but below the $1,249,125 high-cost ceiling that applies in Los Angeles, Orange and the Bay Area counties. Purchases above that figure move into jumbo underwriting. VA buyers with full entitlement are the exception: there is no VA county loan limit for them, so a qualified veteran can often finance above the conforming limit with no down payment at all — an option that is frequently overlooked in San Diego.
San Diego Mortgage FAQ
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in San Diego County?
$1,104,100 for a one-unit property. San Diego is an intermediate-tier county — higher than the $832,750 California baseline, but lower than the $1,249,125 ceiling that applies in Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Clara and San Francisco counties. Several sources incorrectly list San Diego at the ceiling figure.
Is there a VA loan limit in San Diego?
Not for buyers with full VA entitlement. Veterans with full entitlement have no county loan limit, meaning you can finance above San Diego’s $1,104,100 conforming limit with no down payment, subject to lender approval and your ability to repay. Buyers with partial entitlement — typically those with an existing VA loan — are still limited.
Can I use a VA loan on a San Diego condo?
Yes, but the condo project itself must be VA-approved. Approval status varies project to project and can change, so it is worth confirming before you write an offer on a downtown or Mission Valley condo rather than after.
Which San Diego areas do you serve?
All of San Diego County — the city proper, Chula Vista and the South Bay, La Jolla and the coast, Carlsbad, Oceanside and North County, and inland to Escondido.
Ready to Get Pre-Approved in San Diego?
Whether you are using VA entitlement, buying your first home in the South Bay, or financing above the county limit in La Jolla, we can tell you what you qualify for before you write an offer.
Mango Stock Mortgage | NMLS# 2815478 | Licensed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Financing Law, License No. 60DBO-218256. Loans made or arranged pursuant to a California Finance Lenders Law license. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit, underwriting, appraisal and program approval. Equal Housing Lender. See our Licensing & State Disclosures.
Related California Mortgage Resources
- California Mortgage — Statewide Home Loans
- CalHFA Down Payment Assistance
- Bank Statement Loans California
- DSCR Loans California — Investor Mortgages
- Non-QM Loans California
- First-Time Home Buyer California
See what you qualify for
Tell us about the property and what you are trying to do. A licensed loan officer will come back to you within one business day with what is actually available — including when the answer is to wait.