- First-time buyer programs
- Low & zero down options
- Se habla español
- Gift funds allowed
- Serving 85349 · 85350 · Gadsden
Our office / Nuestra oficina
- Elite Mortgage — 1874 S Ave B, Yuma, AZ 85364
- Phone / Teléfono — (928) 597-8122
- Email — Info@elitemortgageaz.com
- Hours / Horario — Monday–Saturday: 9:00am–5:00pm · Sunday: Closed
Short answer: Elite Mortgage is an independent mortgage broker serving homebuyers in San Luis, Somerton, Gadsden and southern Yuma County with FHA loans from 3.5% down, conventional loans from 3% down, USDA zero-down financing on eligible rural addresses, VA loans for veterans, and refinancing. We accept gift funds, work with non-traditional credit, and provide full service in Spanish. Call (928) 597-8122.
A market that gets underserved — and shouldn’t be
San Luis sits on Arizona’s southern border, directly across the port of entry from San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora. Somerton lies just north of it, surrounded by the farmland that makes this county nationally important during winter growing season. Together they represent thousands of working households — and a disproportionate number of people who have been told, incorrectly, that they can’t buy a home.
The reasons given are almost always the same three. “You need 20% down.” “You don’t have enough credit.” “Your income is seasonal, so you won’t qualify.” Every one of those is either outdated or simply wrong, and each has a real solution that an experienced broker deals with every week.
You do not need 20% down — FHA starts at 3.5%, conventional programs start at 3%, and USDA financing on an eligible rural address requires nothing down at all. A thin credit file can be underwritten manually using twelve months of rent, utility and phone payment history. And seasonal agricultural income is documentable and acceptable when it’s averaged across a consistent two-year record. None of this is exotic. It just requires a lender willing to actually work the file.
First-time buyer programs
FHA financing from 3.5% down with flexible credit and debt-ratio guidelines, plus Arizona statewide down payment assistance where you qualify. Most first-time buyers need far less cash than they expect.
Seasonal & agricultural income
Harvest-calendar income, multiple employers, or several household earners contributing — all workable with the right documentation strategy and a two-year history.
Non-traditional credit
No credit score isn’t the end of the conversation. Twelve months of rent, utilities, insurance or phone payments can establish a payment history under FHA manual underwriting.
Gift funds from family
A documented gift from a relative can cover the entire down payment on many programs. It needs a gift letter and a clean paper trail — we’ll show you exactly how.
USDA zero-down
Much of the rural area around Somerton and San Luis falls inside USDA-eligible boundaries, allowing 100% financing subject to household income limits. We verify address by address.
Multi-generational households
A non-occupant co-borrower — often a parent — can help you qualify on FHA and many conventional programs. Families buying together is normal here, and the guidelines allow for it.
Elite Mortgage LLC is a private, independent mortgage broker and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of HUD, FHA, VA, USDA or any government agency.
Communities we serve in southern Yuma County
- San Luis 85349
- Somerton 85350
- Gadsden
- Cocopah communities
- Avenue G corridor
- County 15th & 16th
- Highway 95 South
- Rural Yuma County
Buying inside the city instead? See our Yuma mortgage page. Looking east toward the Foothills? That’s Fortuna Foothills. The full list is on our areas we serve page.
How much do you actually need to buy?
| Program | Minimum down | What makes it work here |
|---|---|---|
| USDA Rural Development | 0% | Eligible rural addresses around Somerton and San Luis, within household income limits. The strongest option when the property qualifies. |
| VA Loan | 0% | Veterans and service members. No monthly mortgage insurance, no down payment with full entitlement. |
| FHA Loan | 3.5% | The workhorse for first-time buyers — flexible credit, higher allowable debt ratios, gift funds permitted, non-occupant co-borrowers allowed. |
| Conventional | 3% | Best when credit is strong, because mortgage insurance can be removed later once you reach 20% equity. |
Layer seller-paid closing costs on top of a gift from family, and the cash you personally bring to the table can end up remarkably small. That combination is the one most people don’t know exists.
What to bring to your first conversation
- Thirty days of recent pay stubs for everyone whose income will be used
- Two years of W-2s, or two years of tax returns if you’re self-employed
- Two months of bank statements — all pages, even the blank ones
- A government-issued photo ID, and immigration documentation if applicable
- Documentation of any additional income: second job, seasonal work, child support, benefits
- If you’re using non-traditional credit: twelve months of rent receipts, utility bills, phone or insurance payment records
Don’t have all of it? Call anyway. Half of what we do on a first call is telling people which of these actually matters for their specific situation.
Your first purchase, step by step
- Free conversation, no credit pull required to start. Tell us what you earn, what you owe, and what you’d like to pay each month. We’ll tell you honestly where you stand today.
- Credit reviewed and a plan built. If you’re ready now, we move. If you need three months of preparation first, we’ll tell you exactly what to do — and we won’t charge you for it.
- Pre-approval in hand. Now you know your budget, your true monthly payment, and how much cash you’ll actually need at closing.
- Find the home, verify the property. We confirm USDA eligibility, check for manufactured-home issues, and review anything that could complicate the loan before you commit.
- Appraisal, underwriting, conditions. One organized list of what underwriting needs, explained in the language you prefer.
- Sign and get your keys. We review the final numbers with you before you sign anything. Files can close in as fast as two weeks — see the closing-time note in the footer.
En Español: comprar su primera casa en San Luis o Somerton
En Elite Mortgage le atendemos completamente en español, desde la primera llamada hasta la firma final. Somos una empresa local, fundada en Yuma en 2021, y trabajamos con familias de San Luis, Somerton y Gadsden todos los días.
Muchas personas creen que necesitan un 20% de enganche para comprar una casa. No es cierto. Los préstamos FHA comienzan con un 3.5% de enganche, los préstamos convencionales desde un 3%, y en muchas direcciones rurales cerca de Somerton y San Luis los préstamos USDA permiten comprar sin enganche, sujeto a los límites de ingreso familiar.
También trabajamos con situaciones que otros prestamistas rechazan: ingresos de temporada del campo, poco historial de crédito (se puede usar el historial de pagos de renta, luz, teléfono o seguro durante doce meses), y regalos de dinero de un familiar para el enganche, que están permitidos y solo requieren una carta y comprobante del depósito.
Llámenos al (928) 597-8122. La primera consulta es gratis, sin compromiso, y le diremos con honestidad si califica hoy o qué necesita hacer primero. Nuestra oficina está en 1874 S Ave B, Yuma, abierta de lunes a sábado de 9:00am a 5:00pm.
San Luis & Somerton buyer questions
Can I buy a home with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number?
ITIN mortgage programs do exist through specialty lenders for borrowers who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. They generally require a larger down payment and carry different pricing than standard conventional financing, and availability varies between investors over time. Call us with your situation and we’ll tell you honestly what’s currently available and whether it fits.
What if I have no credit score at all?
A thin or nonexistent credit file is not an automatic denial. FHA allows non-traditional credit, where twelve months of on-time payments for rent, utilities, cell phone, insurance or tuition are used to establish a payment history. The file goes through manual underwriting, which means the documentation has to be organized properly — but people buy homes this way regularly.
Can my parents or family give me the down payment?
Yes. Both FHA and conventional programs allow gift funds from an eligible donor, most often a family member. It requires a signed gift letter and a clear paper trail documenting the transfer from their account to yours. It cannot be a loan you’re expected to repay. On several programs the entire down payment can come from a gift.
Can someone co-sign if they won’t live in the house?
Often, yes. FHA and many conventional programs permit a non-occupant co-borrower — typically a parent or close relative — whose income helps you qualify. Their credit history and existing debts are evaluated along with yours, and they take on legal responsibility for the loan. For multi-generational households this is a well-established path to a first home.
Is USDA zero-down financing available around here?
In many places, yes. Portions of southern Yuma County sit inside USDA-eligible rural boundaries, which permits 100% financing with no down payment, subject to household income limits for the area. Eligibility is address-specific — one street can qualify while the next doesn’t — so we check the exact parcel before you write an offer.
What if part of my income is paid in cash?
It counts only if it is documented. Cash that appears on your tax returns or W-2s is usable income. Cash that was never declared cannot be counted toward qualifying, no matter how reliable it is — that is a legal limit, not a lender preference. If you are planning to buy in the next year or two, start depositing income into a bank account consistently: it builds the paper trail, and it opens the door to bank statement loan programs.
Can I buy as a permanent resident or with a work visa?
Yes. Lawful permanent residents generally qualify on the same terms as U.S. citizens. Non-permanent resident borrowers with valid work authorization can also qualify for FHA and conventional financing when documentation requirements are met. Bring your current immigration documentation to the first conversation and we’ll confirm which programs apply to you.
Can the seller pay my closing costs?
Frequently, and it’s one of the most useful tools available to a first-time buyer. Seller concessions toward closing costs are negotiable and capped by program — FHA generally permits up to 6% of the sale price, while conventional limits shift with your down payment. Pair a seller concession with gift funds and the cash you personally need can become very small.
What paperwork do I need to get started?
Typically thirty days of pay stubs, two years of W-2s or tax returns, two months of complete bank statements, a government-issued photo ID, and documentation of any other income. Self-employed borrowers should add business tax returns and a year-to-date profit and loss statement. We give you one consolidated list up front rather than requesting things one at a time over three weeks.
Can I finance a home on tribal trust land?
Homes on tribal trust land need specialized financing rather than a standard conventional mortgage, because of how the land is titled. The HUD Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program exists specifically for eligible Native American and Alaska Native borrowers. Bring us the property details and we’ll explain which financing paths are actually open for that parcel.
Elite Mortgage · Serving San Luis, Somerton & Gadsden. Elite Mortgage LLC · NMLS #2339191 · Founded 2021 in Yuma by Gustavo Espindola · Se habla español.
Elite Mortgage LLC · NMLS #2339191 · Equal Housing Lender. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval, property appraisal, income and asset verification, and program guidelines, which are subject to change without notice. Down payment percentages shown are program minimums and are not guaranteed for every borrower or property. USDA eligibility is determined by property address and household income. Program availability, including ITIN financing, varies by investor and may change without notice. Licensing information may be verified at the NMLS Consumer Access website.