California Mortgage Rates Today — Compare CA Lenders
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate in California is currently 6.65% APR. California has the highest median home prices of any state. Many counties have conforming loan limits up to $1,149,825 to reflect elevated values. Compare today’s rates from top California lenders across all major loan types below.
California Mortgage Rate Comparison Table
Rates below assume a 740+ credit score, 20% down payment, and a $600,000 loan on a single-family primary residence in California.
| Loan Type | Interest Rate | APR | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-Year Fixed | 6.65% | 6.65% | Most Popular |
| 15-Year Fixed | 6.01% | 6.01% | Pay off faster, save interest |
| 5/1 ARM | 6.79% | 6.79% | Short-term owners |
| FHA 30-Year | 6.30% | 6.30% | Low down payment |
| VA 30-Year | 6.15% | 6.15% | Veterans & military |
| 30-Year Refinance | 6.77% | 6.77% | Existing homeowners |
Rates sourced from lender survey data and updated regularly. Actual rates vary by lender and borrower profile. See disclaimer.
Understanding Mortgage Rates in California
California has the largest mortgage market of any US state, driven by high home prices, massive population, and consistently strong demand for housing in coastal metros. A large proportion of California mortgages are jumbo loans due to the state’s elevated home prices.
California is a non-recourse state, meaning lenders generally cannot pursue borrowers personally for deficiency balances after foreclosure on a purchase loan. The CalHFA offers first-time buyer programs with below-market rates and down payment assistance.
What Affects Your California Mortgage Rate?
Several key factors influence the rate a California lender will offer you: your credit score (740+ gets the best rates), your down payment (20%+ eliminates PMI), your loan type (VA and FHA often beat conventional), and broader market conditions driven by the Federal Reserve and Treasury yields. Always compare at least 3–5 lenders — the spread between best and worst rate can be 0.5–1.0%.