by Michael Divita | Jul 17, 2026 | Home Buying Tips, ITIN Loans, Loan Types, Mortgage Education
Millions of Californians pay taxes, maintain stable employment, and contribute to the economy using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) rather than a Social Security number. Many have been renting for years — building equity for landlords instead of... by Michael Divita | Jul 17, 2026 | Home Buying Tips, Loan Types, Mortgage Education
Owning a licensed cannabis business in California — a dispensary, cultivation operation, distribution company, or cannabis testing lab — puts you in a position that most mortgage lenders cannot work with. Your business is legal under California law, generates real... by Michael Divita | Jul 17, 2026 | Home Buying Tips, Loan Types, Mortgage Education
You work at a licensed cannabis dispensary in California. You have a good income, a solid credit score, and you’ve saved for a down payment. Then you apply for a mortgage and get denied — not because of anything on your financial profile, but because of where... by Michael Divita | Jul 17, 2026 | Home Buying Tips, Loan Types, Local Market
California’s high-fire-risk zones cover millions of homes across virtually every region of the state — and buying or refinancing in one is increasingly complicated. The insurance crisis is the most visible challenge, but it’s not the only one. Lenders have... by Michael Divita | Jul 17, 2026 | Home Buying Tips, Loan Types, Local Market
If the only fire insurance you can get on your California home is the FAIR Plan, you’re halfway there — and that’s the part most buyers don’t know. The FAIR Plan covers your dwelling against fire. It does nothing else. No liability coverage, no... by Michael Divita | Jul 17, 2026 | Home Buying Tips, Loan Types, Local Market
The California FAIR Plan is the state’s insurance safety net — the option of last resort when no standard carrier will write a policy on your home. In 2025 and 2026, it has become the primary coverage option for hundreds of thousands of California homeowners in...