The first house in the family starts here.
Most of the buyers we work with in San Luis and Somerton are buying their first home — often the first one anybody in their family has owned. That process should be explained in plain language, in the language you actually speak, by someone who lives twenty minutes up the road. That's the whole job.
Elite Mortgage
1874 S Ave B
Yuma, AZ 85364
Phone / Teléfono
(928) 597-8122
Hours / Horario
Monday–Saturday: 9:00am–5:00pm
Sunday: Closed
Short answer: Elite Mortgage serves 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 Every one of those is either outdated or simply wrong, and each has a real solution that an experienced broker deals with every week.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.
Communities we serve in southern 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. Our average file closes in roughly 14 days.
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
Find out today — not someday.
One free call tells you whether you can buy now, or exactly what to fix first. In English or in Spanish, with no pressure either way.
Elite Mortgage LLC · NMLS #2339191 · Individual loan originator NMLS #[VERIFY]. 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.