Last Updated: September 1, 2026
Median Price
$775K
Property Tax
0.76%
0.34% below avg
Closing Costs
~2.5%
of loan amount
Market
Calculate Your California Mortgage Payment
Pre-filled with California's median home price ($774,582) and property tax rate (0.76%). Adjust the values to match your situation.
Loan Calculator
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California Mortgage Rates
Compare today's mortgage rates from top lenders in California.
What Affects Your California Mortgage Rate?
Credit Score
Higher scores get better rates
Down Payment
20%+ avoids PMI
Property Type
Primary homes get best rates
Loan Term
15-year has lower rates
Refinancing in California
See if refinancing could lower your monthly payment or help you pay off your mortgage faster.
Good Time to Refinance
- Current rates are 0.5%+ lower than your rate
- Your credit score has improved significantly
- You want to switch from ARM to fixed-rate
- You plan to stay in your home 3+ more years
Consider Waiting If
- Rate difference is less than 0.5%
- You plan to sell within 2 years
- Closing costs exceed potential savings
- Your credit score has dropped
Refinancing costs typically range from 2-6% of your loan amount. Calculate your break-even point to ensure savings outweigh costs.
Compare California Refinance RatesCalifornia Housing Market
Median Home Price
$774,582
Property Tax Rate
0.76%
First-Time Buyer Programs
15
CaliforniaInsurance & Natural Disaster Considerations
Wildfire Insurance
As of early 2026, California's homeowner insurance market is in crisis. State Farm, Allstate, and several mid-size carriers have paused or limited new policy issuance in wildfire-prone areas. Buyers in the WUI (wildland-urban interface) , roughly 4.5 million California homes , often can't get private coverage and must use the FAIR Plan, which is more expensive and covers less. Moratorium legislation (SB 824) prevents cancellation for one year after a declared disaster in your zip code, but it doesn't help new buyers. Budget $2,000-$6,000/year for fire-zone insurance and get quotes BEFORE making an offer.
Insurance Market Update
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's 2025 Sustainable Insurance Strategy allows insurers to use catastrophe models and reinsurance costs in rate-setting for the first time, which should bring some carriers back to the market , but higher premiums are the tradeoff. State Farm began accepting limited new applications in select areas in late 2025 under the new framework. Expect insurance costs to stabilize but not drop. Lenders require hazard insurance as a condition of closing, so uninsurable properties are effectively unmortgageable.
California Regional Breakdown
Bay Area
San Francisco and the broader Bay Area remain California's most expensive market, with median prices in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties hover around $1.5-1.8M. Tech layoffs in 2023-24 softened prices 5-8% from peaks, but the Spring 2026 market has tightened again. Buyers here compete with all-cash offers and often waive contingencies. The upside: Prop 13 locks in your tax basis, so buying now in a high-appreciation area compounds savings over decades.
Los Angeles
LA County is sprawling and wildly varied. $450K condos in the Valley, $1.2M single-family in the Westside, $2M+ in Santa Monica or Manhattan Beach. The 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires displaced thousands and spiked rental demand, which pushed some renters into buying further east. The Metro E Line expansion (opening 2026) is creating new transit-accessible pockets in Inglewood and South LA where prices haven't caught up yet.
Sacramento
Sacramento is where Bay Area expats land when they want a house with a yard for under $550K. The state capital has steady government employment, a growing medical sector (UC Davis Health), and a downtown that's genuinely revitalized since 2020. Watch for flood zone designations along the American and Sacramento rivers. flood insurance adds $1,200-2,500/year.
San Diego
San Diego's median sits around $850K, driven by biotech (Torrey Pines corridor), military (Camp Pendleton, Naval Base), and UC San Diego growth. The coastal climate premium is real. expect 15-20% more for anything west of I-5. Chula Vista and East County offer relative affordability but longer commutes. Cross-border buyers from Tijuana are an increasing part of the market.
Central Valley
Fresno, Bakersfield, and Stockton are California's affordability play, with median prices from $350-450K. Agricultural economy means seasonal income variation for some buyers, which complicates qualification. Water rights and drought risk are real concerns for rural parcels. These markets have the highest inventory levels in the state, giving buyers actual negotiating leverage.
Inland Empire
Riverside and San Bernardino counties (the 'IE') are California's fastest-growing mortgage markets. Median prices around $550K draw LA commuters willing to trade a 60-90 minute drive for a 3-bed house instead of a 1-bed apartment. Warehouse and logistics employment (Amazon, FedEx) has exploded here. Heat is a factor. summer temps regularly hit 105°F+, and cooling costs add $200-400/month in peak months.
CaliforniaHousing Density & ADU Opportunities
SB 9 (California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency Act) lets owners of single-family lots split their parcel and build up to 4 units total , two on each resulting lot. Combined with existing ADU law (AB 68/AB 881), this means almost any single-family property in California can add rental income potential. For buyers, this changes the math: a $700K house with an ADU renting at $1,800/month effectively reduces your net housing cost by $21,600/year. Cities can't block SB 9 projects that meet objective standards, though some (Beverly Hills, Woodside) have tried.
Frequently Asked Questions About California Mortgages
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Affiliate Disclosure: AmCalc may receive compensation when you click on links to partner sites. This does not affect our editorial content or the rates you receive. All rates and terms are subject to lender approval.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. State-specific information is for general reference and may not reflect your individual situation. Actual loan terms, costs, and savings vary by lender, credit profile, and market conditions. Tax laws are complex and change frequently. Consult qualified professionals for personalized guidance.