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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:

First-time buyer? Start with First-Time Homebuyer Programs in Sacramento.
Veteran or active-duty? Start with VA Home Loans: How Veterans Can Buy a Sacramento-Area Home With $0 Down.
Buying in a higher-priced market? Start with Jumbo Loans in El Dorado Hills.

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.

First-Time Home Buyer Programs in Sacramento (2026 Guide)

The biggest hurdle for most first-time buyers in Sacramento isn't the monthly payment — it's the down payment. Saving $20,000 to $40,000 while paying current Sacramento rent is rough math. The good news: there are real programs designed exactly for this, and most buyers qualify for more help than they think.

Here's the 2026 lineup worth knowing about.

CalHFA — California's signature program

The California Housing Finance Agency runs several programs that work well in Sacramento. Two highlights:

MyHome Assistance Program. Offers a deferred-payment second loan that covers down payment and closing costs — up to 3.5% of the purchase price. You pair it with a CalHFA first mortgage.

California Dream For All. When funded, this program offers down payment help in exchange for a small share of future appreciation. Wildly popular when available — funds open and close quickly, so timing matters.

FHA loans

Not technically a "program" but functionally a first-time buyer's best friend. FHA loans require just 3.5% down with credit scores as low as 580. Pair it with a CalHFA assistance loan and you're potentially buying with very little out of pocket.

VA loans for eligible veterans

Zero down, no PMI, competitive rates. If you've served, this is almost always the strongest option.

USDA loans for outer Sacramento areas

Parts of southeast Sacramento County, Wilton, Galt, Herald, and outlying areas qualify for USDA rural development loans — also zero down. Most buyers don't realize how close to the city these eligible zones extend.

Local Sacramento programs

The City of Sacramento and Sacramento County run periodic homebuyer assistance programs, especially for buyers in targeted neighborhoods or under certain income limits. These come and go based on funding cycles, so checking current availability matters.

What "first-time buyer" actually means

Here's the surprise: most programs define a first-time buyer as someone who hasn't owned a primary residence in the past three years. So even if you owned a home a few years ago, you may still qualify.

How to stack these programs

The real magic happens when you combine programs. FHA + CalHFA MyHome assistance. VA + seller credits. CalHFA Dream + a local grant. A broker who works these loans daily will know which combinations actually close — and which look good on paper but stall in underwriting.

FAQ

What's the minimum credit score for these programs?

580 for FHA. CalHFA programs typically require 660+. VA is flexible but most lenders look for 580+.

How much income can I make and still qualify?

Income limits vary by program and county. Sacramento County's CalHFA limits in 2026 are higher than many people assume — middle-class earners often still qualify.

Do I have to take a homebuyer class?

For most assistance programs, yes. They're free, usually online, and take a few hours.

Can I use down payment assistance on a duplex?

Sometimes — depending on the program and whether you'll occupy one unit.

Chris KennedyMay 27, 2026Comment

Sacramento Housing Blog