I’m proud to share that Shelter Island Capital was voted Best Home Loan Provider in San Diego Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Picks.
After more than 25 years in mortgage lending, recognition like this means a lot, especially because it came from the readers.
Most of my business has always come from past clients, real estate professionals, financial advisors, friends and families who trust me enough to refer the people they care about. I don't take that trust lightly.
But rather than simply announcing the award, I thought this was a good opportunity to share what the work behind it actually looks like.
One of the things I enjoy most about mortgage lending is that no two clients are exactly alike.
Sometimes a borrower has plenty of income, but a traditional tax return doesn't accurately reflect their cash flow. Another client may have substantial assets but would rather preserve them than use them for a large down payment.
A first-time buyer may need help minimizing cash to close, while an established homeowner may want to access equity without selling an existing property.
The right solution starts with understanding the whole picture.
Here are a few recent examples.
A San Diego borrower had multiple sources of income, including cash distributions from a firm in which he is a partner. His tax returns didn't accurately reflect the cash flow coming into his personal accounts.
We were able to use personal bank statement deposits to document his income, approve his refinance, and lower both his interest rate and monthly payment.
The numbers on a tax return don't always tell the whole story.
A first-time homebuyer in San Bernardino was living with his parents and had limited funds available for a down payment.
His income was actually too high to qualify for USDA zero-down financing, so we looked at another option.
By utilizing a down payment assistance program, we were able to structure the purchase with zero out-of-pocket at closing, including returning his initial deposit.
Another first-time buyer had recently retired and was making the move from the city to the mountains.
He had retirement assets available for a down payment, but using those savings wasn't necessarily the best strategy.
Instead, we utilized zero-down government-sponsored financing along with seller-paid closing costs, allowing him to purchase his first home with zero out-of-pocket while leaving his retirement accounts intact.
A middle-aged couple and their children had been living with the parents while preparing to purchase their first home.
They had limited funds for a down payment and were understandably sensitive to the transition into a new monthly mortgage payment.
We kept their down payment to the minimum required and structured a seller-funded temporary interest-rate buydown, significantly reducing their mortgage payment during the first two years.
This allowed them to preserve more of their savings while gradually adjusting to their new housing expense and settling into a home of their own.
A San Diego family needed more space and wanted to move into a quieter neighborhood in their preferred school district, but they didn't want to sell their existing home.
Instead, their plan was to keep the departing residence as an investment property.
We helped them access equity from their existing home and use it toward the down payment on the new property.
The family was able to purchase the larger home they wanted while retaining their original property as a long-term investment.
A retiree relocating from Florida to California found her new home before she was ready to sell her existing residence.
We used bridge financing with minimal out-of-pocket so she could purchase and move into her new home before selling.
That gave her time to comfortably complete the move and then properly prepare and market her Florida property without trying to coordinate two closings at once.
Her departing residence sold within days at a great price, and the bridge financing was paid off.
These borrowers had very different circumstances, but there is a common thread.
The right loan isn't always the obvious one.
Mortgage planning can involve conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA or USDA financing, down payment assistance, bank statement programs, rental property financing, bridge loans, home equity, reverse mortgages and other options.
But the program comes second.
The first step is understanding what you're trying to accomplish.
My job is to look at the entire picture, explain the available options, and help structure a mortgage strategy that makes sense for your situation and your longer-term goals.
Being voted Best Home Loan Provider in San Diego Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Picks is something I'm very proud of.
More importantly, I'm grateful to the clients, real estate professionals, financial advisors, friends and families who continue to trust Shelter Island Capital and refer people to me.
Thank you. I sincerely appreciate it.
Have a mortgage question or a situation that doesn't seem to fit neatly into the box?
Give me a call. You may have more options than you think.
Benjamin Murphey
Shelter Island Capital
619-454-0914 Direct
NMLS #227691
Your first step to homeownership.
Starts with an application. Ends with a legacy.