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 in the Pocket and Greenhaven, Sacramento

Short answer: The Pocket and Greenhaven are south Sacramento neighborhoods along the Sacramento River. Most homes sit behind levees. That makes flood zone status, flood insurance and home age the three things that shape a mortgage here.

The Chris Kennedy Team at Reliant Lending helps buyers across Sacramento, Placer and El Dorado counties. Here is how financing works in the Pocket and Greenhaven.

Why buyers like this part of Sacramento

The Pocket and Greenhaven sit south of Land Park and Curtis Park. Many streets are quiet. Many homes have mature trees. The river trail is close. Downtown is a short drive away.

Flood zone status comes first

Much of this area is protected by levees. Some parcels carry a flood zone designation. Some do not. A lender checks the flood determination on every loan.

If a home is in a designated high risk zone, flood insurance is usually required. That cost goes into the monthly payment. It can change how much home fits a budget.

Ask for the flood determination before writing an offer. It is a quick check.

Home age and condition

Many homes in the Pocket and Greenhaven were built from the 1960s through the 1990s. Older homes can mean older roofs, older electrical panels and older plumbing.

FHA and VA appraisals look at minimum property condition. A failing roof or peeling paint on an older home can slow a file. A good agent spots these on the first walkthrough.

Insurance is part of the payment

Homeowners insurance is a bigger line item than it used to be across California. Get a quote early. A buyer who sees the full payment, taxes plus insurance plus any flood coverage, shops with a real budget.

Loan options that fit the area

Conventional, FHA and VA loans are all common here. Eligible veterans may be able to buy with no down payment through a VA loan. Condos and townhomes near the river have their own review rules. See the non warrantable condo post on the blog for that side.

FAQ

Is the Pocket in a flood zone? Some properties are, some are not. The flood determination for the specific address answers it.

Do I have to carry flood insurance? If the property is in a designated high risk zone and the loan is federally backed, usually yes. A lender confirms this for each address.

Does home age affect my loan? It can. FHA and VA appraisals check condition. Conventional loans check it too, in a lighter way.

Can I use a VA loan in Greenhaven? Yes, if the veteran is eligible and the home meets VA property standards.

Who can I talk to about my options? 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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