Chris Johnson - Your California Loan Pro - NMLS #235072

Chris Johnson - Your California Loan Pro - NMLS #235072 At Affinity, our goal is to turn your dreams into reality! We specialize in FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo, Conventional, Commercial, Reverse, Non-QM, and Bridge Loans.

With over 30 years of experience in real estate sales and mortgage loans, we can meet every real estate or financial need you may have and answer all of your questions in the process. Based in California, Chris Johnson & Affinity Mortgage are trusted mortgage brokers offering a wide range of loan solutions to help you achieve homeownership. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, we tailor our services to your needs. Serving vibrant communities like San Jose, Campbell, and Los Gatos, our team provides expert guidance and personalized service through every step of the loan process. Trust Affinity Mortgage to help you find the right loan for your goals. Contact us today and letโ€™s make your dream home a reality.

"Why is my FHA mortgage insurance so much more than my friend's PMI?"๐—•๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐˜†'๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐˜€๐˜†๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—บ๐˜€. Conve...
09/25/2026

"Why is my FHA mortgage insurance so much more than my friend's PMI?"

๐—•๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐˜†'๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐˜€๐˜†๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—บ๐˜€. Conventional loans charge monthly PMI that automatically disappears once you hit 78% equity. FHA charges an upfront fee PLUS an annual premium that, if you put down less than 10%, lasts the entire life of the loan. VA loans skip monthly insurance altogether and charge a one-time funding fee instead.

๐—ก๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ฒ is universally "the cheapest" โ€” it depends on your down payment, your timeline, and whether you're a veteran. I broke down the real math side by side on the blog: https://caliloanpro.com/blog/mortgage-insurance-pmi-mip-va-funding-fee-2026

Trying to figure out which loan program actually costs less for you? Send me a DM

If you are planning a purchase in the year ahead, understanding this now puts you ahead of the curve. I am glad to talk ...
09/14/2026

If you are planning a purchase in the year ahead, understanding this now puts you ahead of the curve. I am glad to talk through what it could mean for your plans.

https://link.msgsndr.com/sp/d8ed2c3b953

We will never forget. Patriot Day honors the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and pays tribute to the firs...
09/11/2026

We will never forget. Patriot Day honors the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and pays tribute to the first responders, firefighters, and everyday heroes who ran toward danger to save others. Twenty-five years later, the memory still unites us as a nation.

Reverse Mortgage Myth: "The interest rate works completely differently than a regular mortgage."Not exactly true โ€” and i...
09/11/2026

Reverse Mortgage Myth: "The interest rate works completely differently than a regular mortgage."

Not exactly true โ€” and it's one of the most common questions I get from Santa Clara County homeowners exploring a reverse mortgage (HECM).

Here's the short version: just like a traditional mortgage, a reverse mortgage can come with either a fixed or an adjustable rate โ€” and the choice affects how you can access your funds.

๐Ÿ”น Fixed rate: You receive your funds in a single lump sum, and the rate never changes.
๐Ÿ”น Adjustable rate: You can draw funds over time โ€” as a line of credit, monthly payments, or a mix โ€” and the rate can move with the market, but it also gives you more flexibility in how and when you access your equity.

Neither is automatically "better" โ€” it depends on whether you need a lump sum now or want ongoing flexibility as your needs change in retirement.

If you're a Bay Area homeowner 62+ curious about how this fits your equity and your retirement plan, I'm always happy to walk through it โ€” no pressure, no obligation.

A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is a federally insured reverse mortgage. Borrowers retain title to the home and remain responsible for property taxes, insurance, and upkeep. Not a commitment to lend; individual qualification required.

https://link.msgsndr.com/sp/8b15a36fbd6Sitting on more home equity than you realized? You're not alone โ€” Santa Clara Cou...
09/10/2026

https://link.msgsndr.com/sp/8b15a36fbd6Sitting on more home equity than you realized? You're not alone โ€” Santa Clara County homeowners have built real equity even as the market has cooled from its most competitive stretch.

A cash-out refinance lets you replace your current mortgage with a new one and walk away with cash in hand โ€” but it's not always the cheapest way to tap your equity. Sometimes a HELOC is the smarter play, especially if you locked in a great rate a few years back.

I broke down how it works, when it makes sense, and when to pump the brakes โ€” link in the comments (or hit the blog link on my page).

Questions about your specific equity position? โ€” always happy to run the numbers together, no pressure.

๐Ÿก๐Ÿค‘"How much home can I actually afford?" โ€” ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜€๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ป'๐˜ ๐Ÿฏ๐˜… ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ.Lenders calculate a debt-to-income rat...
09/03/2026

๐Ÿก๐Ÿค‘"How much home can I actually afford?" โ€” ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜€๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ป'๐˜ ๐Ÿฏ๐˜… ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ.
Lenders calculate a debt-to-income ratio (DTI): your total monthly debts, including the new mortgage, compared to your gross income. Most programs cap that somewhere between 43-50%. Two people earning the same salary can qualify for very different purchase prices depending on their existing debt and down payment.

๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฎ ๐—–๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐˜๐˜† ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ'๐˜€ ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ฒ๐˜…๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฎ ๐˜„๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ธ๐—น๐—ฒ: the 2026 conforming loan limit is $1,249,125 โ€” the highest ceiling the FHFA allows anywhere in the country. Borrow above that, and you're in jumbo territory, where the qualifying rules get stricter.

I broke down exactly how lenders run this math (and how to find your real number) on the blog: https://caliloanpro.com/blog/how-much-home-can-you-afford-santa-clara-county-2026

Want your actual number instead of a rule of thumb?

Every move starts with two very different jobs. Mine is the mortgage. Yours is everything else that makes a house feel l...
08/28/2026

Every move starts with two very different jobs. Mine is the mortgage. Yours is everything else that makes a house feel like home. While I'm chasing down rate locks, coordinating with underwriters, tracking your closing timeline, and translating loan terms into plain English, you get to focus on the parts that actually matter to you, like finding the best coffee shop down the street and figuring out which local school or park will become part of your routine. A mortgage isn't just numbers on a page; it's the tool that gets you into a community you'll actually love living in. Ready to plant your roots? Let's talk mortgage. DM me today.

She'd done the math a hundred times. Looked at her savings, her credit score, the listings in her price range โ€” and the ...
08/28/2026

She'd done the math a hundred times. Looked at her savings, her credit score, the listings in her price range โ€” and the numbers never seemed to add up. Every 'no' and every 'maybe next year' chipped away a little more at the idea that this was even possible for her. She almost stopped looking. Then one conversation changed everything. Turns out she didn't need 20% down. She didn't need perfect credit. She just needed someone to actually walk her through her options and build a plan around her numbers โ€” not someone else's idea of 'ready.' Fast forward six months: she's holding the keys to a home that's actually hers. If you're in that same place right now -- close to giving up, convinced it's not in the cards for you -- I promise it's worth one conversation before you count yourself out. Let's see what's actually possible for you.

Found your next home but haven't sold your current one yet?You've run into one of the most common timing problems in rea...
08/27/2026

Found your next home but haven't sold your current one yet?

You've run into one of the most common timing problems in real estate โ€” and in a competitive Santa Clara County market, sellers often won't accept an offer that depends on you selling your home first.

Bridge loans (and private-money financing) solve this: they let you tap your current home's equity to fund the down payment on your new place before your old one sells, so you can make a non-contingent offer. It costs more than a standard mortgage โ€” you're paying for speed and flexibility, not a low rate โ€” but for the right situation, it can be the difference between winning the home and losing it.

I broke down how it actually works, what it costs, and how it compares to a HELOC on the blog: https://caliloanpro.com/blog/bridge-private-money-financing-bay-area-2026

Weighing whether to buy before you sell? Let's run your real numbers.

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