Sacramento Home Mortgage Loans | The Chris Kennedy Team
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Sacramento Housing Blog

Sacramento Housing Blog

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Why Buying a Home is the Best Investment

Welcome to The Chris Kennedy Team Mortgage Blog

Honest, local, easy-to-understand mortgage guidance for buyers and homeowners across Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo Counties.

Hi — I'm Chris Kennedy. For years, I've helped first-time buyers, veterans, families upsizing into their forever homes, and seasoned investors navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives: getting a mortgage in the greater Sacramento area.

This blog exists for one simple reason. Most mortgage advice online is generic, confusing, or written by people who've never closed a loan in Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, or Davis. I wanted to change that.

Every post on this site is written for you — the buyer, homeowner, or veteran trying to make sense of mortgages in a real Northern California market. Real numbers. Real neighborhoods. Real programs that actually work here.

What you'll find on this blog

Whether you're brand new to homebuying or you've owned for decades, you'll find practical, local guidance on every part of the mortgage process. The articles below cover:

For first-time buyers — How to qualify, how much you really need to put down, how to use CalHFA assistance, and how to stop waiting and start owning.

For veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses — Everything you need to know about putting your VA home loan benefit to work in Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, and beyond. Zero down. No PMI. The benefit you earned.

For move-up buyers and luxury buyers — Jumbo loan strategies for higher-priced markets like El Dorado Hills, Granite Bay, Serrano, and Bass Lake — including how to qualify, what reserves you'll need, and how to compete in luxury bidding wars.

For investors and wealth-builders — How to use FHA multi-family loans (yes, with just 3.5% down) to "house hack" your first investment property, plus the long-term wealth-building strategy that real estate quietly delivers better than almost any other investment.

For buyers in rural and semi-rural areas — A breakdown of USDA loans across Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo counties, where surprisingly large portions of the region qualify for $0-down financing.

For credit-building buyers — How FHA loans help buyers with imperfect credit get into Sacramento-area homes, plus practical credit improvement strategies that actually move the needle.

Why this blog is different

Three things set this content apart:

It's local. Every article names real neighborhoods, real Sacramento-area home prices, and real programs available in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo counties — not vague national advice.

It's honest. I tell you what works, what doesn't, what the catches are, and when a loan isn't right for you. No high-pressure pitches. No fine print buried at the bottom.

It's actionable. Every post is built so that by the end, you know what to do next — whether that's running numbers, checking eligibility, or starting a conversation.

A little about me

I've spent my career helping Sacramento-area families navigate mortgages — through every kind of market, every kind of loan, and every kind of buyer situation. I've helped:

  • First-time buyers close with $0–$5,000 out of pocket using FHA + CalHFA strategies

  • Veterans buy in Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, and El Dorado Hills with zero down

  • Move-up families step into luxury markets using jumbo financing

  • Investors build long-term wealth through smart house-hacking and refinance strategies

  • Self-employed borrowers other lenders turned away find creative solutions

My team and I serve the entire greater Sacramento region, including:

  • Sacramento County — Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Antelope, Natomas

  • Placer County — Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Auburn, Loomis, Granite Bay

  • El Dorado County — El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Placerville, Diamond Springs, Pollock Pines

  • Yolo County — Davis, Woodland, West Sacramento, Winters, Esparto

If you're buying anywhere in Northern California, there's a good chance we can help.

Start exploring

Scroll down to find articles tailored to your situation. If you're not sure where to begin, here are three good starting points:

Ready to talk?

Reading is great — but a 15-minute conversation will tell you more about what's possible for your specific situation than any article ever could. No pressure, no obligation, no salesy follow-up calls.

Chris Kennedy | The Chris Kennedy Team NMLS# 971546 Mortgage Lender serving Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo Counties www.thechriskennedyteam.com

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The Chris Kennedy Team specializes in FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, jumbo, and CalHFA loans throughout Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Granite Bay, Davis, Woodland, Auburn, Lincoln, Rocklin, Cameron Park, and the surrounding Northern California region. Browse the articles below to learn more — or reach out anytime.

Buying a Home With a Baby on the Way: 2027 Guide

Short answer: Parental leave can change how a lender counts income. Leave pay may be lower than regular pay. Lenders usually ask for proof of a return to work date. Planning the timing helps.

The Chris Kennedy Team at Reliant Lending helps buyers in Sacramento, Placer and El Dorado counties. Many buyers start house hunting while expecting a baby. This guide covers the loan side.

Why timing matters

A lender checks income at application and again before closing. If leave starts during that window, the file changes. Tell your loan officer your leave dates early.

How leave pay is counted

Leave pay can come from an employer, from state programs such as California Paid Family Leave, or from both. Lenders look at what is paid, for how long, and when regular pay returns.

Rules differ by loan type. Some lenders ask for a letter from the employer that states the return to work date and the pay after return. Some count regular pay only after the borrower is back at work.

Buy before leave or after

Buying before leave starts can be simpler, because income is regular. Buying during leave can still work in some cases, though it needs more documents.

The right answer depends on the loan type, the employer and the dates. A conversation early saves stress later.

Two incomes in the house

If one partner is on leave and the other is working, the lender may be able to use the working partner's income. The leave partner's income can come in once they return, depending on the program.

Local examples

A Roseville couple with a due date in spring. An Elk Grove nurse planning leave in the summer. A Folsom teacher timing a move around the school year. In each case, the loan officer needs the dates first.

Do not change jobs mid file

A new job during leave can cause problems. Call before you make a move. See the new job post on the blog.

FAQ

Can I get a mortgage while on maternity or paternity leave? Sometimes. It depends on the loan type and the documents.

Do I have to tell the lender I am expecting? You do not have to share personal details. The lender needs your leave dates and your pay during leave.

Does California Paid Family Leave count? It can, depending on the program. Ask your loan officer.

Should I wait until I return to work? Not always. Ask before deciding.

Where do I start? Book a consultation with the Chris Kennedy Team: https://www.thechriskennedyteam.com/book-a-consultation

Chris Kennedy, NMLS #971546. Reliant Lending, 2100 Northrop Ave #900, Sacramento, CA 95825. General education, not a loan offer. Terms and eligibility depend on your situation.

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