FHA, VA and USDA Loans in California
Government-backed loan programs with low down payments and competitive rates. FHA, USDA rural, and VA loans for eligible borrowers.
Overview
Government-backed loans exist to make homeownership reachable with less cash and more flexible credit. FHA serves buyers with smaller down payments or thinner credit, VA rewards service with no-down-payment financing, and USDA offers no-down-payment loans in eligible rural and suburban areas. We are approved to broker all three across our lender panel.
Government-backed loan programs provide some of the most accessible paths to homeownership. FHA loans offer low down payments, VA loans provide zero-down options for veterans, and USDA loans serve rural and suburban buyers.
Program Features
- FHA: 3.5% down, credit scores from 580
- VA: 0% down for eligible veterans and service members
- USDA: 0% down for eligible rural areas
- Competitive fixed and adjustable rates
- Streamline refinance options
- Manual underwriting available
Ideal For
Veterans and active military (VA), first-time buyers (FHA), and rural/suburban buyers (USDA).
FHA loans
Insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Down payments start at 3.5%, credit requirements are more forgiving than conventional, and gift funds and seller-paid closing costs are allowed. FHA loan limits in the Bay Area are among the highest in the country, so the program covers many East Bay purchases. FHA mortgage insurance applies. Streamline refinances are available for existing FHA borrowers.
VA loans
Available to eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and some surviving spouses. No down payment, no monthly mortgage insurance, competitive terms, and limits on the closing costs a veteran can pay. The VA funding fee applies unless exempt. VA loans can be used more than once, and the IRRRL program provides a simplified refinance for existing VA borrowers.
USDA loans
For homes in USDA-eligible rural and suburban areas, with no down payment required and income limits based on household size and county. Parts of Contra Costa, Solano and the Central Valley are eligible, and the eligibility map is easy to check before you shop. All three programs are subject to credit approval and program guidelines.
FHA / USDA / VA Loan FAQs
What is the FHA down payment?
3.5% of the purchase price for borrowers who meet the credit requirements. It can come from gift funds.
Do VA loans require a down payment?
No, for eligible borrowers with full entitlement. There is also no monthly mortgage insurance.
Can I use a VA loan more than once?
Yes. VA entitlement can be restored and reused, and in some cases you can have two VA loans at once.
Are there USDA-eligible areas in the Bay Area?
Yes, in parts of Contra Costa, Solano and neighboring counties. We check the address against the USDA map before you apply.
Does FHA have mortgage insurance?
Yes, an upfront premium and a monthly premium. Many borrowers later refinance into a conventional loan to remove it once they have enough equity.
Programs, terms and eligibility vary by lender and are subject to credit approval. This is not a commitment to lend. SiFi Lending is a mortgage broker (Simonich Financial, Inc., NMLS #2563307); we arrange loans, we do not make loans. Equal Housing Opportunity.