Roseville · Placer, Sacramento & El Dorado County
The go-to mortgage expert for California.
Data-driven approvals and true-cost analysis. Aaron Knutson's approach to the home-buying process isn't like anyone else's — he's called "The Refi Guy" for a reason, and his process covers every angle on saving money on your home.
A-rated on BBB · 165+ client reviews · Serving Placer, Sacramento & El Dorado since 2010
Closes in as few as 7 days
Founder of HiddenHomeCost.com — parcel-level taxes, Mello-Roos and insurance, before you make an offer
Get your free real-time data + expert mortgage analysis
What are you here to do?
The founder
Who is Aaron Knutson?
Aaron Knutson opened Cali Mortgage in 2010 to do mortgage lending the right way — pick up the phone, explain every number, and close on time. He is also the founder of HiddenHomeCost.com, which reads parcel-level records for an address and shows what owning it actually costs once property tax, Mello-Roos, insurance and utilities are counted. That is why a conversation with him starts from the county's own data rather than a national average. Most of his business is referrals and repeat clients.
Why work with a broker instead of a bank?
A broker shops your loan across lenders; a bank sells you the one product it has. You get more options and someone who works for you — start to finish.
In their words.
As first-time homebuyers, the process felt overwhelming at times, but he made everything so much easier to navigate. He was always quick to respond, guided us through every hiccup along the way, and made sure we felt confident in our decisions.
— Haylee B. · July 2026
His communication, attention to detail, and responsiveness really make the difference when it comes to lending. He's provided a multitude of creative solutions for my clients that they've really loved. He's my go-to lender.
— Baris D., real estate agent · July 2026
It was a challenging loan with a tight closing deadline, and my initial lender was unable to deliver, causing unnecessary delays. Aaron stepped in, worked seamlessly with my real estate agent, and made it happen flawlessly.
— Jason P. · February 2025
We're so grateful for all your support throughout our home buying journey — it really means a lot to us. Thank you again for going above and beyond!
— Niketa P. · July 2026
Unedited client reviews published on Mortgage Matchup, UWM’s broker directory. Read all of them · 165+ reviews across Google, Yelp, Zillow and Mortgage Matchup.
Get your appraisal fee waived on your first purchase.
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