How to use the California Mortgage calculator
- Enter your numbers. Fill in home price, down payment, down payment %, interest rate, loan term.
- Enter taxes, insurance & fees details. Fill in property tax / yr, home insurance / yr, HOA / month, PMI rate.
- Read your results. Results update instantly. The headline shows the estimated monthly payment; the breakdown and table below show the details.
California property taxes
Homeowners in California pay an average effective property tax rate of 0.7% of home value, #32 highest among the 50 states and DC and below the middle state (0.77%). On a $400,000 home that’s about $2,800 a year.
Proposition 13 (1978) caps the base property tax rate at 1% of assessed value plus voter-approved local levies, and limits annual increases in assessed value to 2% until a home is sold. That’s why effective rates for long-time owners are low, but a new buyer is taxed on the full purchase price; plan on roughly 1.1–1.3% of the price in your first year in many counties.
2026 loan limits in California
- Conforming (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac): $832,750 for one unit, higher in designated high-cost counties up to $1,249,125. Larger loans are jumbo loans.
- FHA: $541,287 to $1,249,125 depending on county. See the FHA loan calculator.
Example monthly payments in California
| Home price | Principal & interest | Property tax / mo | Total with $125/mo insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $1,264 | $146 | $1,535 |
| $400,000 | $2,023 | $233 | $2,381 |
| $600,000 | $3,034 | $350 | $3,509 |
20% down, 6.5% fixed for 30 years, no PMI or HOA. The interest rate is an example; use a current quote.
Worked example
With these inputs: home price $400,000; down payment $80,000; down payment % 20%; interest rate 6.5%; loan term 30y; property tax / yr $2,800; home insurance / yr $1,500; PMI rate (if under 20% down) 0.5%.
The calculator gives an estimated monthly payment of $2,381. Other results: loan amount $320,000, total interest $408,142, total of P&I payments $728,142, payoff date Oct 2056.
What your results mean
The payment includes principal and interest plus California property tax (preset to $2,800 a year, the statewide 0.7% average on a $400,000 home), insurance and any PMI or HOA. Replace the tax with your county’s figure for a closer estimate.
Tips
- Look up your county assessor’s rate; California rates vary widely by location.
- Get homeowners insurance quotes; the $1,500 default is only an example, not a state average.
- Compare other states: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in California?
The average effective rate on owner-occupied homes is about 0.7% of home value (2023 Census ACS data via the Tax Foundation), ranking #32 highest of 50 states and DC. Rates vary by county and city.
What is the monthly payment on a $400,000 house in California?
About $2,381 a month with 20% down at 6.5% for 30 years: $2,023 principal and interest, $233 property tax and $125 insurance (example insurance amount).
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in California?
$832,750 for a one-unit home in most counties, up to $1,249,125 in designated high-cost areas.
What is the FHA loan limit in California for 2026?
Between $541,287 (floor) and $1,249,125 (high-cost ceiling) for a one-unit home, depending on the county.
How much is property tax on a $300,000 home in California?
About $2,100 a year ($175 a month) at the statewide average effective rate.
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