About
About Home Loan Playbook
Independent mortgage guides for San Diego and California homebuyers
Most mortgage content online is written by lenders selling you their own products. We compare loan programs, rates, and lenders side by side, with every claim sourced from CFPB guidelines, HUD documentation, and verified rate sheets. No affiliate links.
The FHA vs. conventional comparison breaks down minimum down payments, mortgage insurance costs, and loan limits with 2026 numbers. The first-time buyer programs guide covers every CalHFA grant, forgivable loan, and tax credit available in California, including San Diego Housing Commission programs. The VA loans guide covers eligibility, funding fees, and lender comparisons for military families near Camp Pendleton, Naval Base San Diego, and MCAS Miramar.
Methodology
We use the same research process for every buying guide on Home Loan Playbook. Before a guide goes live, it has to clear the checks below.
- Check the important numbers. Prices, specifications, performance figures, and safety ratings link back to their sources. We look for an official document and a trustworthy independent source before publishing.
- Separate claims from real-world results. When an official figure differs from independent testing, we show both and name the sources. For buying decisions, we give more weight to independently verified results.
- Be honest about weaknesses. Every model has drawbacks, and our reviews say what they are. A useful buying guide should help you rule cars out, not just give you reasons to buy them.
- Keep rankings independent. Manufacturers cannot buy a place in our lists. We do not use dealer-portal affiliate links or sell the top position.
- Recheck changing details. Every article carries a Last verified date. We revisit prices, variants, and feature lists when a manufacturer updates a model.
Editorial principles
- Give readers the useful answer early.
- Put citations beside the claims they support.
- Say when the evidence is limited or a figure is only an estimate.
- Write plainly, without padding or sales language.
- Use comparison tables where they make a choice easier to scan.
Editorial team
The Home Loan Playbook editorial team handles source selection, fact-checking, corrections, and scheduled content reviews. The editor responsible for this work is listed below.
Sandilya M
Editor, Home Loan Playbook · Home Loan Playbook
Sandilya edits Home Loan Playbook — independent, evidence-led coverage with verifiable sourcing and a transparent methodology.
LinkedIn →Contact & corrections
Spotted a number that looks off, or have a model we should cover? Email hello@homeloanplaybook.com. Corrections are made within one business day; the article’s Last verified date is bumped on every update.