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First-time buyer home in Los Angeles
First-Time Buyers

Your first LA home.
Less down than
you think.

Most first-time buyers in Los Angeles don’t use FHA — they buy with as little as 3–5% down on a conventional loan. Here’s the path that actually fits most buyers.

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The 5%-down path
most LA buyers take

FHA gets all the attention, but the most common way first-time buyers get into a Los Angeles home is a conventional loan with a low down payment. It usually means a smaller monthly payment, mortgage insurance that eventually falls off, and a loan amount big enough to buy a real LA home.

1
3% down up to $832,750 (LA County conforming)
2
5% down up to $1,249,125 (LA County high-balance)
3
Close on your first LA home
Your Options

Low down payment loans
for Los Angeles

Three real paths in. For most first-time buyers, one of the two conventional options is the best fit — FHA is there when you need it.

Conventional
3% Down
The lowest-down conventional option. Great when your target price fits the standard LA County conforming limit.
  • As little as 3% down
  • Up to the $832,750 LA County conforming limit
  • Gift funds allowed
  • Mortgage insurance can be removed later
  • First-time-buyer friendly programs
Most Common
5% Down · High-Balance
The path most LA first-time buyers actually use. 5% down works all the way up to the LA County high-balance limit — so you can buy a real LA home without going jumbo.
  • 5% down up to $1,249,125
  • LA County high-balance conforming limit
  • Buys well above the standard limit
  • Mortgage insurance can be removed later
  • Conventional rates and guidelines
If It Fits
FHA · 3.5% Down
A solid backup when credit is rebuilding or your debt ratio is tight. More forgiving guidelines, but mortgage insurance stays for the life of the loan.
  • 3.5% down with 580+ credit
  • Up to $1.2M loan amount in LA
  • Lower credit scores accepted
  • Higher DTI thresholds
  • See full FHA details →
Why Conventional First

Why most LA buyers
skip FHA

FHA is a great tool, but it isn’t the default. For buyers with decent credit, conventional low-down loans usually win on the things that matter most.

Insurance That Falls Off
Conventional mortgage insurance can be removed as you build equity. FHA mortgage insurance typically stays for the life of the loan.
Higher LA Price Range
5% down reaches a $1,249,125 loan in LA County — the high-balance limit — so you can compete for real LA homes without jumping to a jumbo loan.
Just 3% to Start
If your price fits the $832,750 conforming limit, you can get in with only 3% down — less than FHA’s 3.5%.
Get Started

Find your down
payment path

Text Derek your target price, credit range, and what you’ve saved — he’ll map out whether 3% down, 5% down high-balance, or FHA gets you into your first LA home for the least out of pocket.

Text Derek Start Application →