San Rafael, CA
San Rafael home loans, built for San Rafael's market.
High-balance, jumbo, move-up, refinance: whatever a San Rafael purchase needs — near Terra Linda or anywhere San Rafael — the loan fits the market.
What financing a San Rafael home really takes.
San Rafael is Marin County’s largest city and county seat, combining the county’s natural amenity base — ridgeline trails, bay views, Point Reyes proximity — with the most accessible price points in a county where the median detached home regularly exceeds $1.5M; its transit hub status gives structural commuter demand from San Francisco.
Financing follows that San Rafael math. For a San Rafael one-unit home, the 2026 conforming line sits at $1,249,125 — high-cost-area room for San Rafael buyers. In practice, San Rafael deals lean on high-balance and jumbo programs; mapping your San Rafael price against $1,249,125 is where strategy starts. FHFA sets these limits annually; run your scenario by us.
San Rafael holds 58,000-plus residents across pockets like Terra Linda and Dominican, with Richmond and Novato right next door. Ask us about San Rafael blocks near the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin Civic Center — that’s the level we work at. Buyers come to us from Terra Linda, Downtown San Rafael, Glenwood/Sun Valley, and Dominican, and from every other part of San Rafael. Need a broker near you in San Rafael? Everything runs by phone and online, so San Rafael expertise comes straight to you.
What working with us looks like.
San Rafael market knowledge
Near the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin Civic Center, across Terra Linda, Downtown San Rafael, Glenwood/Sun Valley — we know how San Rafael prices and programs actually work.
High-balance & jumbo ready
Jumbo, wealth-management, high-balance — that's the San Rafael toolkit, because San Rafael prices with the most expensive in California and the financing keeps up.
Lenders shopped for you
Many lenders bid on each San Rafael file we bring them — San Rafael buyers never shop one shelf.
Owner-handled
Esther Buede — the owner — works your San Rafael loan start to finish; our Google reviews show San Rafael buyers why that matters.
One expert, application to keys.
Every San Rafael file lands on one desk: owner Esther Buede’s (individual NMLS #2003644). Closing loans since 2005, she’ll know your San Rafael plans — Downtown San Rafael or anywhere San Rafael — and your name from the first call. Meet the family behind CHM →
“Esther is amazing, very knowledgeable. She made the loan process fast and easy.”
San Rafael financing that fits the home and the borrower.
Demand around the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin Civic Center keeps jumbo activity steady in San Rafael. For San Rafael we lean on jumbo, wealth-management, high-balance — but whatever fits your San Rafael file, we shop it: conventional, jumbo, VA, non-QM, and FHA loans. Come in at your own pace — buying, refinancing, or comparing paths — apply online or call (949) 522-7310.
First home in San Rafael? See which down-payment assistance is actually real in 2026 — CalHFA’s help applies to San Rafael buyers too.
Not every San Rafael file fits a W-2 box — 1099 and business-owner borrowers can qualify on bank-statement income, and San Rafael investors can lean on asset-based qualifying. Want every unit count, not just single-family? Marin County’s 2026 loan limits page has the full table.
Close to San Rafael, we also help buyers in Richmond, Novato, San Francisco. Every California city we cover →
Serving San Rafael as a licensed California mortgage broker — Choice Home Mortgage, NMLS #2629064, CA DRE #01822046. Equal Housing Opportunity.
San Rafael home-loan questions, straight answers.
How high can a conforming loan go in San Rafael?
Because Marin County counts as high-cost, San Rafael buyers get a $1,249,125 single-family ceiling for 2026. Per FHFA — we'll confirm your San Rafael numbers.
How do San Rafael buyers finance above the conforming limit?
San Rafael's price points mean jumbo and high-balance financing come up constantly on San Rafael files. We map your purchase against the limit first, then make lenders compete for it.
What parts of San Rafael do you work in?
All of San Rafael — including Terra Linda, Downtown San Rafael, Glenwood/Sun Valley, Dominican. The financing follows you across San Rafael: the loan matches your San Rafael file, never the ZIP.
Do you actually know the San Rafael market?
We do. Choice Home Mortgage is California-licensed (NMLS #2629064) and works San Rafael loans regularly — your San Rafael file stays owner-handled, phone-and-online, San Rafael to closing.
Do you serve areas near San Rafael?
Of course: Richmond, Novato, San Francisco run the same as San Rafael files, with each area's numbers checked separately.
Ready for your San Rafael address?
No call center — just Esther. We'll find what fits your San Rafael purchase and do the San Rafael lender legwork.