Addicted to Property Porn? It’s all fun and games when you’re ogling the mansions with million-dollar-views, but when you’re ready to get serious about home-buying, those multi-million dollar price tags are just downright depressing. Plus, with rents inching higher, you may wonder if you’ll ever able to save for a down payment at all.

But there’s good news. According to a Trulia study, with interest rates still low, buying a home is now about 35% cheaper than renting in the 100 largest U.S. metro areas for many people. You may be closer to buying your Bay Area dream home than you think – and a SoFi mortgage can help. Here’s how:

1.  Save your savings.  While many lenders require 20% down, SoFi allows you to put as little as 10% down on a condo or house without paying expensive mortgage insurance.

2.  Afford more.  SoFi uses a flexible debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, so even borrowers with student loans may be able to qualify for more financing than they would with a traditional lender. And unlike other lenders that may require you to have 12 months of mortgage payments in reserves on top of your down payment, SoFi only asks for six months.

3.  Get in the game.  With a SoFi mortgage, your loan is underwritten at the pre-approval stage, so you can choose to submit offers without financing contingencies and better compete with all-cash offers. 

4. Know your options. In a competitive market, knowing what you can afford can give you an edge and save you time down the road. While some lenders require paperwork or a phone call to find out what rates and loan amounts you may qualify for, SoFi can tell you in just two minutes via a simple online process.

Ready to make your Bay Area dream home a reality?

Before you settle for another lender, check your rates and see what SoFi can offer you—just visit SoFi.com.   

SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS #1121636. Terms and conditions apply. Please see SoFi’s eligibility and licensing page for more details.