Mortgage Rates in California — June 2026
Compare mortgage rate benchmarks across 338 cities in California. Amortio's estimated state average for a 30-year fixed loan is 6.7%, which is 0.17% above the Freddie Mac national benchmark of 6.53% from May 28, 2026. These figures are informational estimates, not lender quotes or APR offers.
What is the current California mortgage-rate benchmark?
Amortio's California state table shows an estimated 6.7% 30-year benchmark across 338 cities, versus Freddie Mac's 6.53% national 30-year PMMS benchmark from May 28, 2026. Use it to compare city payments, then request same-day lender Loan Estimates for APR, points, fees, lock period, and cash-to-close.
How to Read California Mortgage Rates
California is not one uniform mortgage market. The rate table below covers 338 cities, but the real payment difference comes from home price, income, property taxes, loan size, and whether a borrower fits conventional, FHA, VA, or jumbo pricing. Use this page to compare cities first, then use lender quotes for final APR and fee decisions.
- At the state-average payment of $3,864 per month and median income of $77,281, California looks stretched relative to the standard 28% housing-cost guideline.
- The observed city-level 30-year benchmark spread is 0.55 percentage points, from 6.35% to 6.9%. Even small rate differences matter more in expensive cities because they apply to larger loan balances.
- Property taxes are material but not the only factor; rate, loan size, and insurance assumptions can move the final payment just as much.
- For buyers comparing down payment choices, pair this state page with the PMI calculator, affordability calculator, and closing cost estimator before assuming the lowest advertised rate creates the lowest total cost.
Payment-Efficient California Cities
| City | P&I / Income | Monthly P&I | Median Income | 30-Year Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blythe | 24.9% | $1,431 | $69,000 | 6.78% |
| Mad River | 27.1% | $2,340 | $103,500 | 6.77% |
| Arroyo Grande | 29.8% | $2,297 | $92,500 | 6.7% |
| Bakersfield | 34% | $1,703 | $60,143 | 6.55% |
| Fountain Valley | 35.4% | $2,656 | $90,000 | 6.69% |
Highest-Priced California Markets to Stress-Test
California Mortgage Quote Comparison Worksheet
Use this checklist before choosing between lender quotes, state assistance, builder credits, or a temporary buydown. It is built to catch the costs that do not show up in a simple rate table.
| Line Item | What to Compare |
|---|---|
| Rate vs APR | APR exposes points, lender fees, and credits that can hide inside a lower advertised rate. |
| Cash to close | Compare down payment, closing costs, prepaid taxes, insurance escrow, and any assistance or seller credit. |
| Payment after escrow | California buyers should compare principal, interest, property tax, insurance, HOA or condo dues, and mortgage insurance together. |
| Assistance terms | Down payment assistance can be a grant, forgivable second, deferred second, or repayable loan; the repayment rule changes the real cost. |
| Rate lock and buydown | Temporary buydowns and lender credits can improve the first-year payment while leaving a higher long-run payment. |
A strong California mortgage comparison should include at least two lender Loan Estimates plus one program or assistance check where available. Pair this worksheet with the affordability calculator, PMI calculator, and closing cost estimator.
California CalHFA, MyHome & High-Cost County Notes
California borrowers should compare mortgage-rate benchmarks with CalHFA first mortgage options, MyHome assistance, Dream For All timing, high-cost county loan limits, condo rules, taxes, insurance, and cash-to-close. This page is for planning and comparison, not a lender quote or APR offer.
- CalHFA MyHome offers a deferred-payment junior loan up to the lesser of 3.5% of purchase price or appraised value for FHA loans, or 3% for conventional loans, subject to program rules.
- CalHFA requires homebuyer education and counseling for first-time homebuyers using CalHFA programs.
- CalHFA announced that Dream For All would resume applications in 2026 for first-generation homebuyers, with funding, windows, and selection rules that can change.
- California county loan limits, property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, wildfire risk, and condo/project rules can change the practical loan decision more than the headline rate.
California Loan Limit, CalHFA & Assistance Checks
| Area | Conforming | FHA | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| California conventional loans | Use FHFA county lookup | Use HUD county lookup | High-cost counties can have higher limits; verify county before assuming conforming, FHA, or jumbo. |
| CalHFA MyHome purchase | Program-specific | Program-specific | Assistance depends on first mortgage type, first-time buyer status, income, education, and approved lender rules. |
| Dream For All path | Program-specific | N/A | Shared-appreciation assistance depends on current application window, selection, funding, and eligibility rules. |
Official California Mortgage Sources
California Housing Highlights
All 338 Cities in California
| City | 30-Yr Rate | Home Price | Monthly P&I | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 6.55% | $1,000,000 | $5,083 | 3,979,576 |
| San Diego | 6.55% | $875,000 | $4,448 | 1,423,851 |
| San Jose | 6.55% | $1,350,000 | $6,862 | 1,013,240 |
| San Francisco | 6.55% | $1,250,000 | $6,354 | 873,965 |
| Fresno | 6.55% | $365,000 | $1,855 | 542,107 |
| Sacramento | 6.55% | $475,000 | $2,414 | 524,943 |
| Long Beach | 6.55% | $795,000 | $4,041 | 466,742 |
| Oakland | 6.55% | $825,000 | $4,193 | 433,031 |
| Bakersfield | 6.55% | $335,000 | $1,703 | 403,455 |
| Anaheim | 6.55% | $875,000 | $4,448 | 350,365 |
| Stockton | 6.55% | $435,000 | $2,211 | 320,804 |
| Riverside | 6.55% | $545,000 | $2,770 | 314,998 |
| Santa Ana | 6.55% | $785,000 | $3,990 | 309,441 |
| Irvine | 6.55% | $1,250,000 | $6,354 | 307,670 |
| Chula Vista | 6.55% | $735,000 | $3,736 | 275,487 |
| Fremont | 6.55% | $1,350,000 | $6,862 | 230,504 |
| Santa Clarita | 6.55% | $745,000 | $3,787 | 228,673 |
| San Bernardino | 6.55% | $395,000 | $2,008 | 222,101 |
| Modesto | 6.55% | $395,000 | $2,008 | 218,464 |
| Fontana | 6.55% | $525,000 | $2,669 | 214,547 |
| Moreno Valley | 6.37% | $556,364 | $2,775 | 213,919 |
| Oxnard | 6.55% | $695,000 | $3,533 | 202,063 |
| Huntington Beach | 6.55% | $1,050,000 | $5,337 | 198,711 |
| Glendale | 6.55% | $985,000 | $5,007 | 196,543 |
| Santa Rosa | 6.55% | $725,000 | $3,685 | 178,391 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 6.55% | $645,000 | $3,278 | 177,603 |
| Oceanside | 6.55% | $735,000 | $3,736 | 176,218 |
| Elk Grove | 6.55% | $545,000 | $2,770 | 176,124 |
| Ontario | 6.55% | $555,000 | $2,821 | 175,265 |
| Lancaster | 6.55% | $395,000 | $2,008 | 173,516 |
| Garden Grove | 6.55% | $815,000 | $4,143 | 172,646 |
| Palmdale | 6.55% | $415,000 | $2,109 | 169,450 |
| Salinas | 6.78% | $620,000 | $3,227 | 163,542 |
| Hayward | 6.55% | $835,000 | $4,244 | 162,954 |
| Corona | 6.55% | $615,000 | $3,126 | 157,136 |
| Sunnyvale | 6.55% | $1,750,000 | $8,895 | 155,805 |
| Pomona | 6.55% | $555,000 | $2,821 | 151,713 |
| Escondido | 6.55% | $695,000 | $3,533 | 151,038 |
| Roseville | 6.55% | $545,000 | $2,770 | 147,773 |
| Torrance | 6.55% | $975,000 | $4,956 | 143,505 |
| 298 more California city mortgage-rate pages are available as individual pages and in the XML sitemap. | ||||
California Mortgage Rates Guide — 2026
California homebuyers can use an estimated 30-year fixed benchmark of 6.7%, with median home prices around $748,293. At these rates, the typical monthly mortgage payment (principal and interest with 20% down) is $3,864.
The most affordable city for homebuyers in California is Blythe, where the median home price is $275,000. On the other end, Beverly Hills has the highest prices at $3,662,756. Property tax rates across the state average 0.76%.
To comfortably afford a home at the state average price, a household income of approximately $165,600 is recommended, following the standard guideline that housing costs should not exceed 28% of gross income.
For California mortgage-rate searches, compare Los Angeles, San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, Inland Empire, Central Valley, and coastal markets separately. A rate that works in a baseline county can become a jumbo or high-cost county decision elsewhere.
CalHFA assistance can reduce cash-to-close, but MyHome and Dream For All should be compared by APR, repayment timing, shared-appreciation or junior-lien rules, education requirements, lender fees, and resale or refinance plans.
Use our free loan calculator to see your estimated monthly payments and amortization schedule, or browse individual city pages below for localized rate data and market insights.
Methodology & Mortgage Rate Data Sources
How we calculate California mortgage rates: Our rate estimates start with weekly mortgage-rate benchmarks and then compare city-level housing assumptions. They are designed for planning and comparison, not as a guarantee of lender pricing.
- Benchmark mortgage rates from Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) — the most-cited weekly survey of 30-year and 15-year fixed conforming rates.
- Federal Reserve rate policy tracked via FRED — Federal Reserve Economic Data — the St. Louis Fed's authoritative database of interest rate series.
- Conforming loan limits set annually by the FHFA Conforming Loan Limit announcements (California 2026: $832,750 baseline, with higher one-unit limits in high-cost counties).
- State lending regulation context from HUD State Information pages covering FHA, down payment assistance, and housing finance agency programs in California.
- Mortgage market trends tracked via Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey — the industry benchmark for mortgage demand and rate sensitivity.
Authoritative mortgage rate data sources:
- Freddie Mac PMMS — weekly 30yr and 15yr fixed rate benchmark
- FRED — Federal Reserve Economic Data — interest rate and housing series
- FHFA — Federal Housing Finance Agency — conforming loan limits and HPI
- HUD — Housing and Urban Development — FHA programs and state assistance
- CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program — official MyHome assistance percentages, eligibility, and education rules
- CFPB Mortgage Rate Checker — personalized rate comparison tool
- VA Home Loan Program — zero down payment loan for eligible veterans
Rate Disclaimer: Rates shown are estimates based on current market surveys and may not reflect actual lender quotes. Your rate depends on credit score, loan-to-value ratio, down payment, property type, and lender. Always obtain personalized rate quotes from multiple lenders. Rates change daily.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Last updated May 2026 · Freddie Mac PMMS data current as of May 28, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions — California Mortgages
What are current mortgage rates in California?
As of May 28, 2026, Freddie Mac's national benchmark was 6.53% for the 30-year fixed and 5.87% for the 15-year fixed. Amortio's California city comparison shows an estimated 30-year benchmark average of 6.7% and 15-year average of 5.95%. Rates vary by city, lender, lock date, fees, and borrower qualification.
What is the average home price in California?
The median home price across 338 cities in California is $748,293. Prices range from $275,000 in Blythe to $3,662,756 in Beverly Hills.
How much income do I need to buy a house in California?
Based on the 28% debt-to-income guideline, you would need a household income of approximately $165,600 to comfortably afford the average home in California. The median household income in the state is approximately $77,281.
What is CalHFA MyHome?
CalHFA MyHome is a deferred-payment junior loan that can help with down payment or closing costs for eligible first-time homebuyers using CalHFA first mortgage programs. Current assistance percentages, income limits, education rules, and lender requirements should be verified.
Why are California mortgage-rate comparisons so location-specific?
California loan limits, home prices, property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, wildfire or flood risk, condo rules, and local transfer costs can vary sharply by county and city, so the same interest rate can produce very different approval and payment outcomes.
California Mortgage Rates by ZIP Code
Explore mortgage rates for specific ZIP codes in California. Rates can vary by neighborhood based on local property values and lending conditions.
Browse Mortgage Rates by State
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