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Buying a Home in LA With RSUs: What SpaceX & Tech Employees Should Know

Buying a Home in LA With RSUs: What SpaceX & Tech Employees Should Know
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For many SpaceX and high-growth tech employees, RSUs are a major source of wealth—but when you’re ready to buy a home in Los Angeles, that wealth doesn’t always translate cleanly into mortgage approval. Traditional lenders often want to see a long history of stock sales or require you to liquidate shares for the down payment, which can trigger taxes and cut into long-term upside.

That’s why the Stephanie Younger Group partnered with a mortgage company offering custom home purchase plans for SpaceX employees—designed to leverage vested RSUs as qualifying income without requiring you to sell stock.

Watch the video:


 

Why RSUs can be “real money” but still not count for a mortgage

RSUs vest over time as part of your compensation. In many cases, they can build into a sizable portfolio—sometimes seven figures. The problem is that many lenders treat RSUs cautiously unless you’ve sold shares consistently for a long time, or you’re willing to sell shares now.

That can lead to frustrating outcomes:

  • You qualify for less than you should based on total comp
  • You feel pressured to sell earlier than you want
  • You risk an unexpected tax bill at the worst time (mid-escrow)

The goal: qualify now without divesting now

If your long-term plan is to hold equity, you need a purchase strategy that reflects your full financial picture.

Our Custom RSU Mortgage Program (how it’s different)

The program you described is designed to:

  • Use vested RSUs as qualifying income (based on value + vesting schedule)
  • Not required to sell stock to qualify or close
  • Fit equity-heavy earners, including private-company employees where liquidity timing can be uncertain
  • Provide a custom pre-approval strategy so you can compete in LA’s fast market

Why this matters in the SpaceX corridor

If you’re targeting neighborhoods that often come up for SpaceX-area buyers—like Playa Vista, Westchester, El Segundo, and nearby pockets—price points can move quickly, and “waiting to sell later” can mean “buying later at a higher number.”

Using RSUs as leverage can help you:

  • Preserve equity (keep shares working for you)
  • Avoid triggering taxes unnecessarily
  • Match your buying power more closely to your earning reality

Who this is best for

This approach is often a fit if you:

  • Have meaningful vested RSUs
  • Prefer to avoid selling shares right now
  • Want to buy sooner (not “after two years of stock sales history”)
  • Need a lender who understands equity comp and can document it correctly

Next step: build a homeownership plan around your stock

If you’re a SpaceX employee (or anyone paid heavily in RSUs) and want to explore an RSU-friendly pre-approval, we’ll connect you with the right lending partner and map a buying strategy around your timeline.

  • Buyers: https://stephanieyounger.com/buyers/
  • Market Stats: https://stephanieyounger.com/market-statistics/
  • Contact: https://stephanieyounger.com/contact/

Important disclosure

The Stephanie Younger Group is not a mortgage lender or financial advisor. We’ve partnered with trusted lending professionals who can advise on specific loan products and qualification criteria. Please consult with a licensed mortgage professional for all financing-related questions.

 
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In 2025, the Stephanie Younger Group was ranked #11 in L.A. County for sales volume by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

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