Licensed CA Contractor | CSLB #1139661 | San Diego Based
Start your project now and pay over time. See your personalized monthly payment options in minutes, with a soft credit check that does not affect your credit score.
— Get Started
First Choice Home Builders partners with Hearth to connect San Diego homeowners with financing options from a network of trusted lenders.
— Simple Process
Financing your remodel is simpler than most homeowners expect. There is no bank visit, no paperwork stack, and no waiting weeks for an answer.
1
Fill out one short form. It takes about two minutes and uses a soft credit inquiry, so your credit score stays untouched.
2
Hearth’s network of lending partners presents monthly payment options based on your credit profile. Choose the one that fits your budget, or choose none at all. There is no obligation.
3
Once approved, funds can arrive in as little as 24 hours. Then our San Diego team gets to work on your project.
You never pay First Choice Home Builders extra for using financing. Your project price is the same whether you pay cash or finance.
— Estimate
Use the calculator to see what a project like yours could look like as a monthly payment instead of a lump sum. Adjust the amount to match your budget and compare options side by side.
Not sure what your project might cost? The San Diego cost ranges below are a good starting point, and a free consultation gives you an exact number.
— Know Your Choices
Contractor financing through Hearth is one of several ways San Diego homeowners pay for remodeling projects. Here is an honest look at how the main options stack up.
Option
Home Equity Required
Typical Funding Time
Closing Costs
Best For
Financing Through Hearth
No
As little as 24 hours
None
Starting soon without touching home equity
HELOC
Yes
2 to 6 weeks
Often
Ongoing or phased projects with strong equity
Home Equity Loan
Yes
2 to 6 weeks
Yes
One large project with a fixed budget
Cash-Out Refinance
Yes
4 to 8 weeks
Yes, significant
Refinancing anyway while funding a remodel
Personal Loan
No
1 to 7 days
Sometimes an origination fee
Mid-size projects, fast timeline
0% Intro APR Card
No
About 1 to 2 weeks
None
Smaller projects paid off within the promo window
A few honest notes: if you have significant home equity and are not in a hurry, a HELOC or home equity loan may offer a lower rate, and the interest may be tax deductible when used to improve your home (talk to a tax advisor). Those options require equity, closing costs, and weeks of processing. Contractor financing wins on speed, simplicity, and not putting your home up as collateral. Many of our clients use it for exactly those reasons.
— Smaller Projects
For smaller projects, Hearth’s lending partners offer a credit card with a 0% introductory APR period for qualified buyers. If the balance is paid within the promotional window, you pay no interest at all.
It is worth being upfront about the limits. This option suits projects roughly in the range of a bathroom refresh or a smaller kitchen update, not a large addition or whole-home renovation, because credit card limits are much lower than loan amounts. After the introductory period ends, a higher standard APR applies to any remaining balance. It also generally requires strong credit to qualify.
If your project is larger, the standard financing options above typically make more sense. Check your options through the form and you will see everything you qualify for in one place.
— Local Numbers
San Diego construction costs run above national averages, so national cost guides tend to underestimate. Here are realistic local ranges to anchor your budget.
$30,000 – $70,000
Midrange scope. Upscale kitchens run past $100,000.
$150,000 – $450,000+
Detached, attached, and garage conversions differ widely.
$50,000 – $200,000+
Scope-driven; full guts sit at the top of the range.
Ranges are planning estimates from published San Diego cost guides as of July 2026, not quotes. Your free consultation gives you an exact number.
— Before You Borrow
Depending on your income, location, and project type, you may qualify for local or state programs before considering private financing. The County of San Diego offers a Home Repair Loan and Grant Program for income-qualified homeowners in certain areas (currently via waitlist). SDG&E customers may access GoGreen Home Energy Financing for energy-related upgrades. And for ADU construction in the City of San Diego, the SDHC ADU Finance Program offers construction loans to income-qualified homeowners.
Note: the CalHFA ADU Grant is currently closed and out of funding. Be cautious of anyone claiming they can get you that grant today.
— Building an ADU?
ADUs are among the largest projects San Diego homeowners take on, and they have their own financing landscape, including the SDHC ADU Finance Program, construction-to-permanent loans, and equity-based options. Who qualifies for what depends on income, location, and how the unit will be used. We cover all of it, step by step, in our dedicated guide.
— Good to Know
No. The prequalification step uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not impact your credit score. A hard inquiry only happens if you proceed with a specific lender’s full application.
Hearth’s lender network works with a wide range of credit profiles, so you do not need perfect credit to see options. The best way to find out is to check, since it costs nothing and does not affect your score.
No. Your project price with First Choice Home Builders is the same whether you pay cash or finance. We are paid the same way for every project.
Once approved, funds can arrive in as little as 24 hours, with a few business days being typical.
It depends on your situation. Home equity options can offer lower rates but require equity, closing costs, and weeks of processing, and they use your home as collateral. Contractor financing is faster, unsecured, and has no closing costs. The comparison table above breaks it down.
Yes. The options presented through Hearth have no prepayment penalties.
A 0% introductory APR credit card option may be available for qualified buyers on smaller projects. See the 0% section above for how it works and its limits.
Your remodel does not have to wait for the savings account to catch up. Check your monthly payment options in minutes, with no credit impact and no obligation.
