What Affects Mortgage Rates in California
California mortgage pricing follows the national lending market rather than a rate set within the state. Broader market conditions shape lender pricing, while your credit profile, loan structure, property details and other application factors affect the offer available to you.
A mortgage quote for a home in Los Angeles can differ from one for a property elsewhere in California when the borrower, property or loan details change.
When comparing lenders for a home purchase, look at both the interest rate and the annual percentage rate, or APR. The interest rate is the percentage charged for borrowing the principal. APR is a broader annualized measure that includes the interest rate plus certain loan costs.
Because the two figures measure different parts of the mortgage, comparing both can help you evaluate offers that have similar interest rates but different qualifying costs.
Types of Mortgages Available in California
Californians buying a home can choose among several mortgage structures, and the amount you plan to borrow can be especially relevant because conforming limits vary across the state's counties.
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A conventional fixed-rate mortgage keeps the same interest rate for the full loan term. Your credit profile, down payment, property and other application details affect the terms available to you.
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FHA loans in California follow separate borrower and property rules. FHA loan limits are set separately from conforming limits and are county-level in California.
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Eligible borrowers can compare California VA loan rates. VA financing follows its own borrower and property requirements.
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USDA loans combine borrower qualification with property eligibility and may apply when you are buying in an eligible rural part of California.
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An adjustable-rate mortgage can change after its initial rate period according to the loan terms. Review the adjustment schedule and how future changes could affect the payment.
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A jumbo loan finances an amount above the conforming limit that applies to the property's county. California has multiple conforming-limit tiers, so the threshold depends on location.
Buyers entering the market for the first time can compare first-time homebuyer loan options in California.
Mortgage insurance treatment depends on the loan program, so include mortgage insurance requirements by loan type when estimating the full payment.
2026 Conforming and Jumbo Loan Limits in California
California's 2026 one-unit conforming loan limit varies by county, from the $832,750 baseline to $1,249,125 in the highest-cost counties. Of the state's 58 counties, 41 use the baseline and 17 have a higher limit.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, sets conforming loan limits annually. In California, the 17 higher-cost counties span eight different one-unit limits from $897,000 to the $1,249,125 high-cost ceiling.
The conforming limit is the line above which a one-unit mortgage falls into the jumbo category. That means California does not have one statewide jumbo threshold. The amount that can remain conforming depends on the county where the property is located. Buyers considering financing above the applicable threshold can compare California jumbo loan rates.
| County |
2026 one-unit conforming limit |
| Alameda County |
$1,249,125 |
| Contra Costa County |
$1,249,125 |
| Los Angeles County |
$1,249,125 |
| Marin County |
$1,249,125 |
| Orange County |
$1,249,125 |
| San Benito County |
$1,249,125 |
| San Francisco County |
$1,249,125 |
| San Mateo County |
$1,249,125 |
| Santa Clara County |
$1,249,125 |
| Santa Cruz County |
$1,249,125 |
| San Diego County |
$1,104,000 |
| Ventura County |
$1,035,000 |
| Napa County |
$1,017,750 |
| San Luis Obispo County |
$1,000,500 |
| Monterey County |
$994,750 |
| Santa Barbara County |
$941,850 |
| Sonoma County |
$897,000 |
The limits above apply to one-unit properties. Limits for two-, three- and four-unit properties are higher. The FHFA publishes annual conforming loan limit values by county and property size.
FHA financing uses a separate limit system, so FHA loan limits in California should not be treated as conforming limits. The VA does not impose a loan limit for eligible borrowers with full entitlement. Lenders may still apply their own underwriting and loan-size requirements, and California VA loan rates are published separately.
Mortgage rates are also available for the following states:
California Mortgage Payment Examples By Rate
California's payment examples extend to a $1,200,000 mortgage. That amount is above the $832,750 baseline used in 41 counties and below the $1,249,125 limit in the state's highest-cost counties. Use the California mortgage payment calculator to test other loan amounts or mortgage details.
| Loan Amount |
5.50% |
5.75% |
6.00% |
6.25% |
6.50% |
| $1,200,000 |
$6,813 |
$7,003 |
$7,195 |
$7,389 |
$7,585 |
| $1,100,000 |
$6,246 |
$6,419 |
$6,595 |
$6,773 |
$6,953 |
| $1,000,000 |
$5,678 |
$5,836 |
$5,996 |
$6,157 |
$6,321 |
| $900,000 |
$5,110 |
$5,252 |
$5,396 |
$5,541 |
$5,689 |
| $800,000 |
$4,542 |
$4,669 |
$4,796 |
$4,926 |
$5,057 |
| $700,000 |
$3,975 |
$4,085 |
$4,197 |
$4,310 |
$4,424 |
| $600,000 |
$3,407 |
$3,501 |
$3,597 |
$3,694 |
$3,792 |
| $500,000 |
$2,839 |
$2,918 |
$2,998 |
$3,079 |
$3,160 |
| $400,000 |
$2,271 |
$2,334 |
$2,398 |
$2,463 |
$2,528 |
| $300,000 |
$1,703 |
$1,751 |
$1,799 |
$1,847 |
$1,896 |
The figures cover principal and interest only. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, association fees and other costs are not included.
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