Buying your first San Diego home with the UC MOP loan.
I’m Zach, a real estate broker at Utmost. Since 2016, I’ve helped 17 UC San Diego faculty families buy their homes, most of them with the university’s Mortgage Origination Program, from Mira Mesa and University City to La Jolla and La Mesa. I know the MOP timeline and paperwork, and how to write offers that win with it.
Program details: UC San Diego Faculty Housing Assistance, fall 2026. Terms change, so confirm with the university.
Recent MOP Purchases
MOP purchase for a faculty member. Bought $24,900 under the list price.
MOP purchase for a faculty member. Bought $25,000 under the original list price.
MOP purchase of two homes on one lot. Bought $139,000 under the list price.
MOP purchase of a townhome near campus. Bought $30,000 under the original list price.
How the MOP timeline works
Submit the Readiness Request. Verified requests go into a quarterly selection, and you have five days to accept if you’re selected.
Meet with the home loan coordinator and submit your MOP application to the UC Office of Loan Programs by the end of the quarter.
Get your MOP pre-approval certificate within 12 months. You need it before you write offers with university financing.
We find the home and write the offer, and you close within 3 more months. Plan on at least 30 days in escrow.
How the UC MOP loan works
The Mortgage Origination Program is a below-market home loan the University of California offers to help recruit and keep faculty. It isn’t an entitlement, and funding is limited, so the details and timing matter.
Who qualifies
New faculty in Academic Senate series (Ladder Rank, In Residence, and Clinical X professors) and Senior Management Group members, buying a first home in San Diego County as their primary residence.
The loan
Starting in January 2027, the MOP is a 7/1 ARM: the rate is fixed for 7 years at a below-market level, with a 3.25% minimum, then adjusts once a year with limits. You can finance up to 90% of the price with no PMI and no prepayment penalty. That means a 10% down payment, and at least 5% of the price has to come from your own funds, such as savings or FRAP.
How much you can borrow
Under the university’s Phase 3 guidelines, which start July 2027, nomination amounts are $1.3 million for new faculty and $1.7 million for tenured faculty. Many faculty also use their FRAP allowance or a Zero Interest Program loan toward the down payment.
Where my faculty clients have bought
University City and UTC
The closest neighborhoods to campus, with 1960s and 1970s single-family homes, townhomes, and condos, and an easy commute by car, bike, or the trolley.
Clairemont
Mid-century single-family homes on the mesa south of campus, often with room to add an ADU, about 15 minutes from UC San Diego.
Mira Mesa
Single-family homes from the 1970s and 1980s east of Interstate 805, with a short drive to campus and Sorrento Valley.
La Jolla
Condos and townhomes near the village and single-family homes in the hills, minutes from campus, at the higher end of MOP budgets.
La Mesa and East County
More home and land for the budget, about 25 minutes from campus, from Mount Helix to the La Mesa village.
I’ve also helped faculty buy in Bay Park, Serra Mesa, Normal Heights, Poway, and Santee. If you’re new to San Diego, I’ll help you compare commutes and neighborhoods before your first visit.
Many of my faculty clients buy from across the country. I’ll plan your house-hunting trip around your visit, share video tours when you can’t be here, and keep the MOP and escrow timelines in sync.
How I help with the MOP
The MOP has more steps and more people involved than a regular loan. I keep them moving so you can focus on your work.
- Before you’re selected: we map out your budget, including FRAP and ZIP, and the neighborhoods that fit, so you’re ready to move when your quarter comes up.
- Offers that compete: MOP loans need about 30 days to close and a 17-day loan and appraisal contingency. I write offers that still stand out to sellers.
- Coordination: I work directly with your MOP loan officer at the Office of Loan Programs, the appraiser, and escrow on the underwriting needs list, the appraisal, and the loan documents at escrow.
- Financing know-how: I’m also a licensed loan originator, so I can explain how the MOP compares with conventional options if you’re not selected or need more flexibility.
- I’m an independent real estate broker, not affiliated with UC San Diego or the University of California. Confirm program details with UC San Diego Faculty Housing Assistance.
What UC San Diego faculty say
“Zach came recommended from work colleagues and has been the go-to realtor for our new hires. I think he has something like >10 happy customers from our work and we are consistently recommending new hires to him.”
“He prepared our visit to the area in two weeks and we closed on a home within a month… He was also very knowledgeable about the UCSD MOP loan program.”
“He was also incredibly responsive and easy to work with. I had a lot of questions as a first-time buyer, and Zach always took the time to explain everything clearly and thoroughly.”
UC MOP questions
What is the UC San Diego MOP loan?
The Mortgage Origination Program is a below-market home loan from the University of California for eligible faculty buying a first home near campus. At UC San Diego, it’s a recruitment and retention program with limited funding, administered by the UC Office of Loan Programs.
Who is eligible for the MOP at UC San Diego?
New faculty in Academic Senate series, including Ladder Rank, In Residence, and Clinical X professors, plus Senior Management Group members. The home must be your primary residence in San Diego County. Your department and the Faculty Housing Assistance office confirm eligibility.
What is the MOP interest rate?
The rate is set below market. Starting in January 2027, the MOP is a 7/1 ARM with a 3.25% minimum rate, fixed for 7 years and then adjusted once a year with limits on how much it can change.
How long does the MOP process take?
Plan on about 15 months from selection: up to 12 months to get your pre-approval certificate, then up to 3 months to close. Once you’re under contract, MOP loans usually need about 30 days to close.
Can I use FRAP or ZIP with the MOP?
Yes. Many faculty put their Faculty Recruitment Allowance or a Zero Interest Program loan toward the down payment. Using them with the MOP needs a startup or resource letter from your department, and FRAP is taxable income, so talk with a tax professional first.
Do I need a real estate agent who knows the MOP?
It helps. MOP offers have longer contingencies and closing timelines than many sellers expect, and the loan involves the university’s own loan officers and documents. I’ve helped 17 UC San Diego faculty families buy homes since 2016, most of them with the MOP, so I know how to keep offers competitive and escrow on track.
Starting at UC San Diego?
Call me to talk through the MOP, your budget, and where to look, whether you’re still interviewing or already selected.