Getting Started Onfinancing
Most of our customers need to finance their home purchase or custom build. It is always a good idea to explore your financing options & get pre-qualified by a lender before you start looking at land or homes in earnest. That way, when the time is right, you can pivot quickly.
FAQ: Do you offer in-house financing? We don’t offer builder financing, but we have worked with many lenders over the years who are experts in their fields. We can recommend the following short list of experienced lenders who are offering programs that you may not be able to get on your own.
Christopherson BuildersPreferred Lenders
We know that exploring the financial path to homeownership can a complicated process that can feel overwhelming, especially with regard to construction lending. That why we have put together this select list of lenders, who have done an exceptional job of assisting our homeowners with their lending needs. Talking to the experts below is a great place to start.
Taylor McNeany, Redwood Credit Union
Born and raised in Sonoma County, I am committed to my community and helping those in it obtain homeownership. Understanding that everyone’s home buying process is unique, I pride myself on serving as a consultant to my buyer’s goals providing loan solutions that fit their individual needs. At RCU, we are able to think outside the box with make sense lending. I look forward to helping you.
Charles Scott, U.S. Bank Home Mortgage
I’m proud to work for a reputable bank like U.S. Bank, and you can trust me to do what’s right for you.
So give me a call at 916-792-8660.
Roger Farah, Cross Country Mortgage
As a retired Santa Rosa Firefighter, helping others isn’t just something I do—it’s who I am. Since 1997, I’ve proudly served Sonoma County as a trusted Mortgage Advisor.
Whether you’re buying your first home, or next home, I’ll help you find the right path—and the right mortgage—to reach your goals.
Construction Loans 101A General Guide
Each lending institution will have their own specific process of vetting a builder and funding a construction loan. In general what happens is:
You get pre-qualified by your lender.
We help you determine what you will be building, and provide you with an initial rough estimate to get started.
We begin your pre-construction phase.
We help you determine more specifially what home you will build, and very importantly, how it needs to be built.
We present a final estimate & enter into a construction contract.
Once we have estimated your architecture, that becomes the basis for your contract price and your loan.
We work with you & your lender.
Your selected lender needs the signed construction contract, the budget & the plans in order to proceed with your loan process. All lenders we have worked with know that we are a preferred builder.
You receive your loan approval (yay) and we begin to build!
Your lender will then control your loan funds and their disbursement to us as work is complete during your build. You will also approve every loan draw.
Your home is completed.
Your construction loan will typically roll over into a mortgage, with no need to refinance – unless you want to.
We build the home, you make the memories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should you choose Christopherson Builders?
For over 45 years, Brenda and Keith Christopherson have been building Northern California homes with the utmost precision and care, while employing high-quality products and methods as the Christopherson standard. We measure our success by providing excellent service to our clients both during their new home build, and beyond. Our reputable brand has staying power and is backed by the trust that we have established over decades of building new homes across the North Bay. In a nutshell, we build out clients’ homes the way we would build our own, and as a result we are humbled to be recognized as one of the best home builders in Northern California.
What services do you offer?
We are a Santa Rosa General Contractor, offering a full-service, concierge building experience. This means that everything you need to build your home, from foundation to roof, is easily found in one place. We are able to take care of all facets of building for our clients, from pre-construction discovery to architecture and permitting. Plus, we offer an in-house interior design studio where all of our clients’ selections for their new homes are made.
What areas do you serve?
Christopherson Builders is currently building in Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Sacramento Counties. Our headquarters is based in Santa Rosa, CA.
How can I see your floor plans?
Many of our plans are available in our website’s plan library, and many more are available in our office and design studio. We have over 70 pre-engineered plans and are always working on more! In addition to offering our plans, we are able to work with our clients on their custom architecture.
Do you also build custom homes?
Yes, we are a custom home builder! If you plan to design a custom home, we highly recommend engaging a reliable home builder to consult with during the creation of your plan. We can help you to design within your ideal building budget, by advising on cost implications of architectural design decisions. If you already have architecture, we offer estimation and review services on completed plans.
Can I change the look of a home?
Absolutely. All of our homes can be built to suit a variety of exterior style and interior design preferences. Changing the outside look of a home is actually the easy part. Any of our plans can be adapted to suit your style, be it Modern, Soft Contemporary, Craftsman, Spanish, Farmhouse and more. Here’s a great example of one of our plans with a variety of exteriors to choose from.
Is Interior Design included?
Yes, it is! We offer an in-house Design Studio here in our Santa Rosa headquarters. We carry a huge array of product samples from flooring to tile to hardware, all here in one place. We offer a large variety of standard options, which are of very high quality. For example, our standard countertops include quartz and granite options in a multitude of patterns and colors. We will help you put together a cohesive home that is completely to your taste.
How long will it take to build my home?
In general, it takes us about 9-10 months from the day we break ground to the day we hand you your keys. It can be shorter, or a little longer, depending upon the complexity of the project. There is always a period of time needed before breaking ground, which will depend on a few things – how far you may already be in the process, what necessary pre-construction reports you may already have in your possession, and where you are located. Your local jurisdiction and whether or not your property is in a historic district or HOA will also greatly influence your pre-construction timeline.
Do you offer any warranties?
We are proud to offer a home warranty and in-house service for every home that we build. In addition to our Christopherson Warranty, we also offer a 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty for extra peace of mind.
Are you building homes to sell?
We build a select number of Christopherson Collection homes each year. A Collection home is one of our own architectural design, and one that has been styled by our in-house design professionals. Our homes often sell before they are completed, with only about half making it to market. We are currently building select new homes in Santa Rosa.
In addition to our limited Collection homes, we are planning a few new home communities – now in the early stages of pre-development design.
I'm interested in building, but I need a lot. Can you help?
We can. If you need to find a lot, one of the the first things we should do is schedule an informal meeting to talk about your goals, and your “all-in” budget. By all in, we mean the total budget you have in mind for the whole project – lot purchase, lot preparation, permits, utilities and the home itself. With this information, we can help you to find a solution that will work.
Should you need representation, our Realtors at Christopherson Properties are highly experienced and skilled when it comes to buying and selling homes and land in Sonoma County. They also will often have lines on off-market opportunities.
Are you building any new home communities?
We are in the preliminary stages of multiple new communities in Sonoma, Mendocino and Sacramento counties. Sign up on our Christopherson Communities page to receive updates as information is released!
Do you offer Remodeling Services?
We are only able to take on large scale, whole home projects. The home must also be vacant and emptied of its contents, so that we can work our transformation magic.
That said, we are at capacity for remodel projects in 2024. Please check back on future availability.
What's next? How can we help you? Get in Touch
We look forward to answering any other questions you may have. Feel free to contact us today.