GEM Mortgage

GEM Mortgage is a residential mortgage lender offering conventional, FHA, VA, USDA and jumbo loans, plus fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. Its loan programs also cover cash-out and rate-and-term refinances, home equity lines of credit, construction and renovation loans, reverse mortgages, and financing for investment and second homes. GEM Mortgage is a division of Golden Empire Mortgage and has been lending for nearly 30 years.

Buyers can start with a pre-approval, then submit a loan application through the online HOMEConnect process, which digitally links income, employment and asset information. Loan officers work alongside the buyer's real estate agent during the home search. The main office is in Bakersfield, and there is a branch in Escondido.