Home Loans in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties

Start My Inland Empire or Desert Pre-Approval

I went to high school in Big Bear Lake, and my family ran a business up the hill for 70 years. I spent more time with my dad in Big Bear, San Bernardino, Riverside, and the desert than anywhere else growing up, and it still feels like home. Today First Capital Mortgage Inc. has a branch office at 81713 Highway 111, Suite B2 in Indio, so this is not a territory I serve from a map. I know it.

Three Very Different Markets, One Broker

• The Inland Empire. Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Murrieta, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, and the commuter cities where families come for room to breathe. Conforming, FHA, VA, and CalHFA down payment assistance do most of the work here, and USDA still applies in the outlying areas.
• Big Bear and the mountains. Cabins, second homes, and short-term rentals have their own rules. Second-home financing needs as little as 10% down; DSCR loans qualify a rental on its own income; and we know which lenders are comfortable with mountain properties, private roads, and seasonal access.
• The Coachella Valley. Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, and the desert cities where retirees, snowbirds, and remote workers all buy differently. Second homes, jumbo, and FHA-insured reverse mortgages for homeowners 62 and older are everyday conversations at our Indio office.

What Financing Looks Like Here

Riverside and San Bernardino Counties use the baseline conforming loan limit, so most homes here fit a standard conventional loan, and jumbo only comes into play at the top of the market. That keeps guidelines simpler and pricing sharper than on the coast. Property taxes vary by district, and Mello-Roos assessments in newer subdivisions can add real money to the payment, so we price the full payment, not just principal and interest.

Inland Empire and Desert Questions We Hear Every Week

Can I buy a Big Bear cabin as a second home and still rent it out?

Yes, within limits. Second-home loans expect you to use the property part of the year; if it is primarily a rental, a DSCR investment loan is the honest fit. We walk through both before you decide.

Is a reverse mortgage a good idea in the desert?

For the right homeowner, yes: no required monthly mortgage payment, and the equity becomes a line of credit or income. For others it is the wrong tool. We start with a fit-check and independent counseling, never a pitch.

Do you work with new construction in Riverside County?

Every week. We coordinate with builder timelines, handle extended rate locks, and make sure the Mello-Roos and HOA figures are in your payment from day one.

Start Here: 15-Minute Application

Let’s Talk About the Inland Empire, the Mountains, or the Desert

Tell me the town, the price range, and what you are trying to do, and I will tell you which program fits and what the payment really looks like. Call (209) 522-7100, send a note, or start the 15-minute application and I will call you after I review it. You can also compare every option on our California loan programs page, or see the other areas we serve.

Steve McNeal, President and Loan Officer, First Capital Mortgage Inc. · NMLS #256426 · CA DRE #01017974. Offices in Modesto and Indio, serving all of California.