Chance Stevens — Santa Clarita Mortgage Loans & New-Construction Real Estate

Q: What kinds of mortgages do you do?

Pretty much all of them: conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo, first-time-buyer and down-payment-assistance programs, refinances, self-employed and bank-statement loans, investment-property loans, and new-construction financing. New construction is also my specialty on the real-estate side, where I represent new-build buyers. If your scenario fits better somewhere else, I will tell you.

Q: What credit score do I need for a new-construction home in Santa Clarita?

There is no single cutoff. Many new-construction buyers in Santa Clarita finance comfortably in the 680 to 740-plus range, but buyers in the 620s can find workable options, and some loan types go lower. Your score mostly sets your pricing, not whether you qualify at all. The Readiness Read gives an honest band-by-band read with no credit pull.

Q: Can you beat my builder's lender?

Honestly, usually not. When a builder ties big incentives to their in-house lender, that bundle is hard to beat, and I will not pretend otherwise. Instead I give you a strong, no-pressure second option so you know whether their deal is actually good, and I check whether the builder will still give you those incentives even with an outside lender, which happens more than people expect. Either way, you will know you did not overpay.

Q: Do you work with first-time buyers and low or no down payment?

Yes. First-time buyers are a big part of what I do. I walk you through low- and no-down-payment loans and any down-payment assistance you might qualify for, in plain English. The Readiness Read flags whether first-timer or assistance programs could fit before you ever apply, and I work with move-up buyers too.

Q: What down-payment assistance is available in Los Angeles County?

California and Los Angeles County offer several first-time and income-based assistance programs, and some can be paired with a new-construction purchase. Eligibility depends on income, location, and loan type. The Readiness Read flags whether assistance could fit your scenario before you apply.

Q: What happens after I submit, and how fast?

I read it myself and send back a real, written answer by email, or a text if you left your number, same-day and always within one business day. No autoresponder. I only call if you ask me to.

Q: Where do you lend, and what do you handle?

On the mortgage side I handle the full range of home loans: purchase, refinance, first-time, move-up, jumbo, FHA, VA, self-employed, and new-construction financing. New construction is my specialty on the real-estate side, where I represent new-build buyers across Southern California (CA DRE# 02245979). I am based in Santa Clarita and licensed to originate home loans in California; if you are buying outside California, I can refer you to a lender I trust in any state except New York.

The Readiness Read · 5 questions · no credit pull

Know exactly where you stand before you talk to anyone.

Five quick taps and I'll send back an honest read — including whether down-payment assistance could make sense, or if you're closer than you think to qualifying for a new build in SCV.

Question 1 of 5 ~2 min

First things first — when do you want keys in hand?

Gut answer is fine. This just sets the pace.

What price range are you eyeing?

SCV context: most new builds land between $700K and $2.5M.

Is this your first home?

First-timers unlock programs repeat buyers can't touch.

Honest guess — where's your credit?

No pull, no judgment. A rough band is all I need.

Last one — what's saved for the down payment so far?

Builder credits and assistance programs can change this math a lot.

Reading your answers…

Checking program fit…

Your read is queued. Where should I send it?

Written by me — not an auto-generated score. Same-day — always within one business day.

✓

It's on the way.

Watch your inbox — your honest readiness read lands same-day, always within one business day. No call unless you ask for one.

Your answers stay private. Not a loan application or credit check.

The desk behind the answers

Independent advice, institutional backing.

$1B+ funded locally

The American Family Funding branch behind every loan I write has funded more than $1 billion in home loans for Southern California families.

Local, not a call center

One office on The Old Road in Santa Clarita. You work with me directly — same person from first question to keys in hand.

Licensed & verifiable

AFF is a division of American Pacific Mortgage (NMLS# 1850). I originate home loans in California and can refer you to a trusted American Pacific Mortgage partner in any state except New York. Verify me anytime — NMLS# 2529600, CA DRE# 02245979 — or read AFF client reviews.

Branch loan-volume figure: American Family Funding, Santa Clarita. Cumulative funded volume; not a guarantee of individual outcomes.

Second Opinion · already shopping?

A second set of eyes on your Loan Estimate.

Upload your LE or paste the numbers. I'll flag anything weird — junk fees, rate-lock timing, points that don't pencil out — and tell you straight if you should stay with your current lender.

Plain-English read, within one business day
No switch, no sales pitch — just a sanity check
If I can do better, I show the math. If not, I say so.

Second Opinion

Send me the numbers

Paste the key terms from your Loan Estimate — or upload the PDF.

✓

Got it.

I'll review your numbers and send a plain-English read, within one business day.

Refi Watchlist · track-only

Set a rate you'd actually act on.

Tell me the rate that would make a refi worth the paperwork. When the market hits it, I send one email. No weekly spam, no "just checking in."

One alert when your target is in range
Zero obligation — watchlist only, no sales follow-up
Unsubscribe anytime with one click

Refi Watchlist

Put a rate on my watchlist

Takes about 30 seconds. No credit check.

✓

You're on the watchlist.

One email when your target rate is in range — nothing else.

Go deeper · free guides

Guides I wrote so you can read before you reach out.

Plain-English playbooks for the scenarios I handle most. Free to read — just tell me where to send them.

New construction

The SCV New-Construction Guide

How new-build financing actually works in Santa Clarita — timelines, builder incentives, and what to watch for.

Read the guide

First-time buyer

The First-Time Buyer Playbook

Down-payment assistance, low-down loans, and the step-by-step path from "someday" to keys in hand.

Read the playbook

Self-employed

The Self-Employed Mortgage Guide

How lenders read your income when you work for yourself — and how to qualify without the usual headaches.

Read the guide

Investors

The Investor Loan Playbook

DSCR loans, financing for rentals, and structuring deals when the property pays for itself.

Read the playbook

Not ready yet

The Mortgage Readiness Coach

A no-pressure roadmap to get mortgage-ready — credit, savings, and timing — on your schedule.

Start coaching

2-minute quiz

Take the Readiness Read

Not sure which guide fits? Answer 5 questions and I'll point you to the right path — no credit pull.

Start the read

Newsletter · every other Tuesday

The SoCal real estate & finance drop.

One short email. Local market moves, new-construction updates, a rate check, and one thing I learned this week. Roughly 3 minutes.

✓

You're subscribed.

First issue lands on the next drop. Unsubscribe anytime.

Licensed NMLS# 2529600 · DRE# 02245979 Brokerage AFF / APM, NMLS# 1850 Equal Housing Lender Verify on NMLS Consumer Access →

About Chance

I help families finance the home they're actually trying to build.

Licensed mortgage loan originator handling every kind of home loan — and a new-construction specialist on the real-estate side — serving the Santa Clarita Valley and greater Los Angeles County. Patient, plain-spoken, and focused on borrowers who want answers instead of pitches.

"Most borrowers I meet have already been pitched at, rate-shopped, and sent generic pre-approval letters. That's not how I work."

Listen first, structure second.

Loan structure follows your timeline, family, and risk tolerance — never the other way around.

Plain English, every time.

If I can't explain a loan structure in two non-jargon sentences, I'm not doing my job.

Honest "no" beats convenient "yes."

If your current lender is offering a better deal than I can, I tell you. The relationship is worth more than any single transaction.

NMLS#2529600 CA DRE#02245979 BrokerageAFF / APM, NMLS# 1850 Service AreaSCV + LA County

Read the full story →

Straight answers

Questions people actually ask.

Do you pull my credit to take the quiz or get a read?

No. The Readiness Read and every form on this site are no-credit-pull — you get real answers without touching your score. I only check credit later, with your permission, once we’re actually starting a pre-approval.

What kinds of mortgages do you do?

Pretty much all of them — conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo, first-time-buyer and down-payment-assistance programs, refinances, self-employed and bank-statement loans, investment-property loans, and new-construction financing. (New construction is also my specialty on the real-estate side, where I represent new-build buyers.) If your scenario fits better somewhere else, I’ll tell you.

What does it cost to work with you?

Nothing to talk to me. The quiz, a quote, and a Second Opinion are all free. If you move forward on a loan, I’m paid through the transaction and there are standard third-party closing costs — and I walk you through every line in plain numbers. No upfront fees, nothing hidden.

What credit score do I need for a new-construction home in Santa Clarita?

There’s no single cutoff. Plenty of new-construction buyers in Santa Clarita finance comfortably in the 680–740+ range, but I’ve helped buyers in the 620s find workable options, and some loan types go lower. Your score mostly sets your pricing, not whether you’re allowed in the door. The Readiness Read gives you an honest, band-by-band read with no credit pull — and the SCV New-Construction Guide walks through the full picture.

Do I have to use the builder’s preferred lender?

Almost never. Builders can offer incentives for using their in-house lender, but in most cases you’re free to choose your own — and sometimes the builder will still honor those incentives with an outside lender. I’ll tell you straight whether their bundle is actually the better deal. More in the First-Time Buyer Playbook.

Can you beat my builder’s lender?

Honestly, usually not — when a builder ties big incentives to their in-house lender, that bundle is hard to beat, and I won’t pretend otherwise. That’s not my pitch. What I do is two things: give you a strong, no-pressure second option so you know whether their deal is actually good, and check whether the builder will still give you those incentives even with an outside lender — which happens more than people expect. Either way, you’ll know you didn’t overpay.

Do you work with first-time buyers and low or no down payment?

Yes — first-time buyers are a big part of what I do. I’ll walk you through low- and no-down-payment loans and any down-payment assistance you might qualify for, in plain English. The Readiness Read flags whether first-timer or assistance programs could fit before you ever apply — and I work with move-up buyers too.

What down-payment assistance is available in Los Angeles County?

California and LA County offer several first-time and income-based assistance programs, and some can be paired with a new-construction purchase. Eligibility depends on income, location, and loan type, so it’s worth checking before you assume you don’t qualify. The Readiness Read flags whether assistance could fit your scenario, and the First-Time Buyer Playbook walks through how these programs generally work.

What happens after I submit — and how fast?

I read it myself and send back a real, written answer — by email, or a text if you left your number — same-day, always within one business day. No autoresponder doing the thinking. I only call if you ask me to.

Where do you lend, and what do you handle?

On the mortgage side I handle the full range — purchase, refinance, first-time, move-up, jumbo, FHA/VA, self-employed, and new-construction financing. New construction is my specialty on the real-estate side, where I represent new-build buyers across Southern California (CA DRE# 02245979). I’m based in Santa Clarita and licensed to originate home loans in California; buying outside CA, I can refer you to a lender I trust in any state except New York.

Still have a question? Email me or DM @chanceatfinance.