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. Physician loans are a specialty — I work with medical professionals across the Bay Area, LA, and San Diego on 0% down purchases at loan amounts that conventional programs can’t touch. Call (800) 239-1103.
A physician loan in California is a specialized mortgage product available to licensed medical professionals that offers 0–10% down payment with no private mortgage insurance (PMI) and flexible debt-to-income (DTI) ratios that account for the large student loan debt most physicians carry.
Who Qualifies for a Physician Loan in California?
Lenders offering physician loans in California typically accept MD, DO, DDS, DMD, DVM, OD, PharmD, and DPM designations. Some programs extend to NP, CRNA, and PA. A few portfolio lenders include JD and CPA as well. Residents and fellows qualify — often with just an offer or match letter before their first paycheck.
Key Benefits of California Physician Loans
The primary advantages that make physician loans compelling in California’s high-cost markets: 0–5% down payment with no PMI on purchases up to $1.5M; loan amounts to $2.5M+ at select portfolio lenders; student loan flexibility with IBR and deferred loans counted at $0 or a reduced payment; offer letter accepted up to 90 days before employment start date; higher DTI tolerance up to 45–50% on many programs; and mortgage history waiver for residents who have been renting.
Why No PMI Matters in California
On a $1.5M California purchase with 5% down, PMI on a conventional loan would typically run $750–$1,125/month. Physician loan programs eliminate PMI entirely despite the low down payment. Even if the physician loan rate is modestly higher than conventional, eliminating PMI often makes the total monthly payment lower. In Marin County and SF — where physician loan limits routinely reach $2M+ — the PMI savings are substantial.
Best Markets for Physician Loans in California
I close physician loans across the state — from the Bay Area (Marin County, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton) to Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento. High home values in California make physician loan limits particularly valuable. In Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties, the 2026 conforming limit is $1,249,125 — physician loan programs routinely go to $2M and above, covering the full range of Bay Area physician home purchases.
How to Apply
Pre-approval typically takes 3–5 business days once documents are in. You’ll need: medical license, diploma or residency match letter, employment offer letter or two years of W-2s, two months of bank statements, and a government-issued ID. Residents and fellows can often get approved using an offer letter before starting work — I coordinate the timing so financing is ready before you need to make an offer.
Frequently Asked Questions — California Physician Loans
Can a medical resident get a physician loan in California?
Yes — physician loan programs are specifically designed to serve residents and fellows, not just attending physicians. Most programs accept an employment offer letter or residency match letter in place of pay stubs, and many will approve the loan up to 90 days before your start date. Student loans in deferment or income-based repayment (IBR) are counted at $0 or a small fraction of the balance, which dramatically improves DTI for residents carrying $200K–$400K+ in medical school debt. The goal is to get you into a home when you’re starting residency without forcing you to wait years until you’re an attending.
How large of a physician loan can I get in the Bay Area?
Physician loan programs typically go up to $1.5M–$2M with 0–5% down, and up to $2.5M–$3M with 10–20% down depending on the lender. In Bay Area markets like Marin County, San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Atherton — where median home prices for physicians’ target neighborhoods often exceed $2M — the higher loan limits are essential. The 2026 conforming limit for Marin, SF, and San Mateo counties is $1,249,125, meaning most Bay Area physician purchases are jumbo. Physician loan programs are specifically designed to handle these loan amounts without requiring conventional jumbo down payments of 20–25%.
What credit score do I need for a physician loan in California?
Most physician loan programs require a minimum credit score of 700–720 for 0–5% down options. At 10% down, some programs go as low as 680. Physicians early in their career who have thin credit files (few accounts, short history) can sometimes still qualify based on the strength of their income trajectory and employer. If your credit score is below 720, I review your full profile — payment history, utilization, file depth — and can often identify a program that works or recommend specific steps to reach the minimum in 30–60 days.
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
