Service area
Mortgage broker for Pasadena and the foothills
Pasadena is the single city Emory Financial has served most — 63 loans since 2011, more than anywhere else in California.
What's different here
Pasadena, specifically
Every market has its own way of derailing a loan. These are the ones that come up in Pasadena.
2026 loan limits
- County
- Los Angeles County
- Conforming limit, 1 unit
- $1,249,125
- Above that
- Jumbo
Set by the FHFA and revised every January. See all loan programs →
Historic homes and the appraisal problem
Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights, Garfield Heights — Pasadena's older neighbourhoods are the draw and the complication. Unpermitted additions, converted basements and square footage that disagrees with county records all show up at appraisal, and any of them can reduce your loan amount late in escrow. Worth flagging early on any pre-1950 property.
Landmark districts and insurance
Homes in landmark or historic districts can carry restrictions that affect replacement-cost insurance, and lenders require adequate coverage before they'll fund. It's rarely a deal-breaker, but it's a step that surprises people when it appears three days before closing.
Condo warrantability near Old Town and along the Gold Line
There's a lot of attached housing along the Metro corridor. Financing depends on the HOA's reserves, owner-occupancy ratio and litigation status — not just your credit. I check the building before you commit to it.
Jumbo is common here
With the county limit at $1,249,125, plenty of Pasadena purchases run above conforming. Jumbo guidelines are stricter but the pricing is frequently competitive, and portfolio lenders have flexibility that agency guidelines don't.
Communities served
Where we've placed loans in Pasadena
- Pasadena
- South Pasadena
- Altadena
- Sierra Madre
- San Marino
- La Cañada Flintridge
- Arcadia
- Monrovia
- Glendale
- Eagle Rock
From Emory Financial's closed-loan records, 2011–present. Licensed throughout California — if your property is elsewhere in the state, that's fine too.
Next step
Start with a conversation.
Fifteen minutes, no credit pull, no obligation. Tell me what you're looking at in Pasadena and I'll tell you honestly what's realistic.