About CJ Kerls

Top 1% of Mortgage Originators in America

Mortgage Executive Magazine · 13 consecutive years · 2014–2026

Personal guidance.
Backed by an experienced team.

Chelsea Kerls, CJ's daughter, works every loan alongside him. Borrowers get one point of contact from pre-approval through close of escrow, whether that is a first-time buyer in San Francisco, a move-up buyer in Marin or on the Peninsula, or an investor looking at Wine Country property in Healdsburg, Sonoma, or Santa Rosa. CJ answers questions outside standard business hours and would rather explain an option twice than have a borrower sign something they do not understand.

Specialties

CJ's deepest experience is with borrowers whose income does not fit a standard underwriting box. Business owners and self-employed borrowers whose tax returns understate their earnings, compensation paid in restricted stock units (RSUs) and bonuses, jumbo and super-jumbo financing, physician loans, FHA and VA, condo financing, bridge loans, and investment property loans underwritten on the property's own cash flow. Traditional salaried borrowers make up a large share of his business as well.

Local experience

No surprises.

Local experience

A founding member of the realtor group, San Francisco Insiders, CJ has built long-standing partnerships with top real estate agents across the Bay Area and Sonoma County. His reputation with agent partners rests on one principle: no surprises. This includes honest timelines, consistent updates, and a hard focus on hitting the contract close date.

Personal note

Outside of work CJ is an avid Bike and/or Peloton rider and a wine and coffee enthusiast. He spends his time in Healdsburg renovating what his realtor once called a "trashy old river house." Living through that project gives him a real appreciation for what his clients go through, and a connection to Sonoma County real estate that goes beyond the office.

Independent resources

Mortgage guidance, without the sales pitch.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau publishes a neutral step-by-step guide to buying a house. It has no affiliation with Rate or with CJ, and it is a good place to start if you want to understand the process on your own terms.