Mortgage Broker in San Francisco, CA | Michael Wolff

San Francisco is the most expensive single-county mortgage market in California — and one of the most complex in the country. The city and county are coterminous, meaning SF County and the City of San Francisco are the same entity. With a median home price exceeding $1.3M and a conforming loan limit that still leaves most purchases in jumbo territory, buyers here need a broker who can navigate both high-balance conventional and jumbo programs, along with the self-employment and RSU income scenarios that dominate this tech-driven market.

San Francisco Market Snapshot

Last updated: May 2026  |  Source: Redfin San Francisco

SF County Loan Limits 2026

What Makes SF Unique for Mortgage Borrowers

Most Purchases Are Jumbo

San Francisco’s median sale price of $1.3M+ means the majority of single-family and condo purchases exceed the $1,249,125 conforming ceiling. Jumbo financing — loans above that threshold — comes with different qualifying standards: typically stronger credit, larger reserves, and more conservative debt-to-income ratios. Shopping multiple jumbo lenders through a broker matters more here than almost anywhere else.

RSU and Bonus Income

Tech compensation in SF often includes restricted stock units, annual bonuses, and variable pay that don’t qualify cleanly under standard W-2 guidelines. Lenders handle RSU income differently — some count a 2-year average, some require vesting schedules, some discount or exclude it. Getting this right at pre-approval matters when you’re borrowing $1.5M+.

Self-Employment

SF has a disproportionate concentration of founders, freelancers, and self-employed tech workers. Bank statement loans, P&L-based programs, and 1099 options exist for buyers whose tax returns understate their actual income — a routine scenario in this market.

VA Buyers Have a Real Advantage

VA loans carry no county loan limit for veterans with full entitlement. In a market where the median price exceeds $1.3M, that zero-down benefit is extraordinary. Presidio of San Francisco (an active Army installation within the National Park Service) maintains a veteran presence, and many Bay Area tech employees are prior military. A well-prepared VA pre-approval is competitive here.

Frequently Asked Questions