Quick Answer

    What is the Cascada Purchase Assistant and who is it for?

    The Purchase Assistant is a free online questionnaire from Cascada Mortgage Advisors, Inc. (NMLS #2470941, CA DRE #02206556), founded by Omar Michel (NMLS #398944, CA DRE #02131389), that matches a San Diego or Southern California homebuyer to the loan programs their situation supports. It asks about property type, occupancy, down payment, credit range, and how income is documented, then returns program options — no credit pull and no score impact. It is an educational matching tool, not a pre-approval: final terms come from one of the 100+ wholesale lenders in the firm's network. Down payments start at 0% for VA, 3.5% for FHA at 580+ credit, and 3% for conventional first-time buyer programs.

    — Cascada Mortgage Advisors, Inc.

    Purchase Assistant

    This Free Purchase Assistant has been designed to help narrow down options based on your individual needs. It's quick, it's easy, and the more questions you answer - the more accurate your results. You'll receive the Purchase information you need instantly without all the calls and emails!

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    Type of Home?

    🔒 Any information you share is secure. It will not be sold or reused.

    Refinancing instead of buying? Try the Refinance Assistant. You can also run numbers with our mortgage calculators or read the 2026 First-Time Homebuyer Guide.

    Purchase Assistant Questions

    The Purchase Assistant is a free guided questionnaire that narrows down which mortgage programs fit your purchase before you speak with anyone. It asks about property type, occupancy, down payment, credit range, and income documentation, then shows the loan paths that match. The more questions you answer, the more specific the result.

    No. It is an educational matching tool, not an underwriting decision or a pre-approval letter. A pre-approval requires a credit report, income and asset documentation, and a lender's review. Cascada Mortgage Advisors, Inc. (NMLS #2470941, CA DRE #02206556) is a mortgage broker, not a direct lender, so the approval and final terms come from one of the 100+ wholesale lenders in its network.

    No. Nothing in the Purchase Assistant pulls your credit, so there is no inquiry and no score impact. You are asked to self-report an approximate credit range only so the program suggestions are realistic.

    Down payment minimums start at 0% for VA loans with full entitlement, 3.5% for FHA with a credit score of 580 or higher, and 3% for conventional first-time buyer programs (5% for repeat buyers). The 2026 San Diego County limit is $1,104,000 for both high-balance conforming and FHA single-family loans, and purchases above that generally require jumbo financing.