I’m Michael DiVita — DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655, DiVita Home Finance (DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700), Tiburon, CA. I’ve been in California mortgage lending since 2000 and founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. Larkspur is one of my core markets in Marin — from the ferry flats to the Bon Air hillsides, I know this market and have closed many purchases here. Call (800) 239-1103.
In Larkspur, the difference between getting the house and losing it often comes down to one thing: how fast your mortgage broker moves. This is not a market where you can take a week to get pre-approved, shop around, and circle back. Homes in Larkspur routinely receive multiple offers within days of listing — and sellers know it.
Larkspur — from the flats near the ferry terminal to the hillside homes above Bon Air — is one of Marin’s most sought-after communities. The combination of top schools, charming downtown, and Larkspur Landing shopping make it a perennial favorite for families upgrading from San Francisco or Marin condos. Inventory is consistently tight, and desirable homes rarely stay available past the first weekend.
What “Fast” Actually Means in Larkspur
Fast does not mean a pre-approval letter printed from an online calculator. It means your broker has already run your full credit, verified your income documents, reviewed your asset statements, and gotten your file conditionally approved — before you ever write an offer. I call this pre-underwriting, and it’s the single biggest advantage a Larkspur buyer can have.
When you’re pre-underwritten, your pre-approval letter is backed by actual underwriter review. Listing agents in Larkspur recognize the difference when they see it — and it matters when they’re advising their seller on which offer to accept.
Pre-Underwriting: Your Competitive Edge
Many Larkspur buyers are moving up from smaller Marin homes or from San Francisco, which means they often have equity they’re counting on from the sale of another property — or they’re buying before selling. Pre-underwriting in Larkspur frequently involves departure residence analysis, bridge loan scenarios, or equity documentation, all of which need to be sorted out before the offer is written rather than discovered mid-escrow. I model this upfront so there are no surprises.
- Full income analysis completed before offer: W-2, self-employed, RSUs, rental income, or bank statement — all documented and signed off
- Asset verification confirmed: Down payment and reserves confirmed with actual account statements
- Credit conditions cleared upfront so nothing surfaces in underwriting after you’re in contract
- Loan structure locked to the specific address and price — not a generic range
The Seller’s Agent Call
Before every offer my clients submit, I call the listing agent directly. I introduce myself, confirm the buyer is fully pre-underwritten, answer any questions about the loan structure, and make clear I can close on any timeline the seller needs. Sellers in Larkspur are often moving to another property and have their own timing constraints — when the listing agent can tell their seller “I just spoke with the lender and they said 21 days is no problem,” that converts a financial offer into a certainty story.
Larkspur listing agents are sophisticated. They’ve seen buyers lose deals because their lender couldn’t perform after the offer was accepted. When I call before the offer goes in, I speak the same language — I can describe exactly how the financing is structured, why the borrower qualifies, and what our track record is in this market. That credibility converts.
| What You Need | DiVita Home Finance | Big Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Same-day pre-approval | Yes | 2–5 days |
| Full pre-underwriting | 24–48 hours | Rarely offered |
| Address-specific approval letter | Within 1 hour | 1–2 days |
| Call to seller’s agent | Every offer | Almost never |
| Clear to close | 14–21 days | 30–45 days |
Frequently Asked Questions — Larkspur CA Mortgage Broker
What are typical home prices in Larkspur, California?
Larkspur home prices range from approximately $900K for condos and smaller properties near Larkspur Landing to $2.5M+ for larger hillside homes. The sweet spot for single-family homes is typically $1.3M–$2M depending on neighborhood and condition. Most Larkspur purchases fall in the conforming jumbo or low-balance jumbo range — the 2026 Marin conforming limit is $1,249,125. Some buyers using FHA can access the market at the lower end. I determine the optimal loan program — FHA, conventional, or jumbo — based on the specific purchase price and the buyer’s profile.
Can I buy in Larkspur while selling my current home at the same time?
Yes — and it’s a common Larkspur buyer profile. The two main strategies are a bridge loan (borrow against your current home’s equity to fund the down payment on the new purchase, then repay when your home sells) or a contingent offer (offer on the Larkspur home with a sale contingency). In Larkspur’s competitive market, contingent offers are difficult — cash sellers almost always prefer non-contingent offers. Bridge loans allow you to offer non-contingently, which dramatically improves your competitiveness. I model the bridge loan scenario for every buyer who has equity in a current property — it often changes what they can offer and compete with.
How fast can you close a Larkspur mortgage?
With full pre-underwriting completed before the offer, I regularly close Larkspur purchases in 14–21 days. The requirements: complete documentation submitted before the offer, a clean appraisal, and clear title. For sellers who are buying elsewhere and have their own timing pressure, a 21-day close from a financed buyer is as compelling as a 21-day close from a cash buyer — sometimes more so, because the financed buyer typically offers more. I make this timeline commitment to listing agents on every Larkspur offer my clients submit.
See all Marin County mortgage services at DiVita Home Finance
Talk to Michael Directly
DiVita Home Finance | Tiburon, CA | In lending since 2000, founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. Michael DiVita DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655. Company DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700.
💬 Text: (310) 849-9124
