MyHome Assistance Program (CalHFA)
Offers a deferred-payment junior loan of up to 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value to assist with down payment and/or closing costs for first-time homebuyers.
Verify program detailsState homebuying guide
California Mortgage Calculator Guide
I would not carry one California city estimate across the entire state. The benchmark below is useful for a first pass, but a serious comparison should move from the statewide number to the tax, insurance, and assistance details attached to the cities actually being considered. The current benchmark is $764,200, and this guide covers 48 city calculators. That sequence keeps the first estimate simple without hiding the local details that can change a real monthly payment.
- State benchmark
- $764,200
- City calculators
- 48
Need more than a statewide benchmark?
Use the complete mortgage payment and affordability calculator to enter your own purchase price, income, debts, loan program, closing costs, and extra-payment plan.
Down-payment comparison
What 5%, 10%, and 20% down could look like in California
These examples use the $764,200 statewide benchmark, a 6.75% 30-year fixed planning rate, the 0.69% midpoint property-tax assumption, and 0.35% annually for homeowners insurance. PMI is illustrated at 1% annually below 20% down.
| Down payment | Cash down | Loan amount | Principal & interest | Property tax | Insurance & PMI | Estimated monthly payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | $38,210 | $725,990 | $4,709 | $439 | $860 | $6,008 |
| 10% | $76,420 | $687,780 | $4,461 | $439 | $860 | $5,760 |
| 20% | $152,840 | $611,360 | $3,965 | $439 | $223 | $4,628 |
The examples do not include HOA dues, closing costs, discount points, lender fees, flood insurance, or property-specific insurance adjustments. Change the city calculator inputs before using a result for a budget.
Local variation
Why one California estimate should not represent every city
The available city-page tax assumptions run from 0.56% for Santa Ana to 0.99% for Hercules, with a midpoint of 0.69% used in the statewide examples. That spread is a reminder to verify the parcel, assessment, exemptions, and taxing district before relying on a monthly number. Santa Ana and Rancho Cucamonga and Hercules are useful starting points for seeing how the planning assumptions vary inside California.
These are effective-rate planning assumptions from 2024 public data, published in this system in 2026. Actual tax bills depend on assessed value, exemptions, levies, and the property's taxing districts.
Cash-to-close research
Homebuyer assistance in California
The state-level research list currently contains 3 programs. MyHome Assistance Program (CalHFA) and California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan are included as a place to begin, not as a promise of approval. Funding, income limits, first-time-buyer definitions, participating lenders, and eligible locations can change, so I would confirm the current rules before counting assistance as cash available at closing.
California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan
Provides down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers to be used in conjunction with the CalHFA first mortgage. Note: As of now, the program has allocated all its funds and is no longer accepting applications.
Verify program detailsUSDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants
Offers loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize their homes.
Verify program detailsA practical review
Before relying on a California payment estimate
01
Replace the statewide California benchmark with the price of the homes actually being considered.
02
Open the relevant city calculator and verify the property-tax assumption against the parcel or local assessor.
03
Get a property-specific homeowners-insurance estimate and add HOA dues when they apply.
04
Compare several interest rates and down payments instead of budgeting from one optimistic scenario.
05
Confirm assistance rules with the official program source before reducing estimated cash to close.
Local calculators
Mortgage calculators across California
Move from the statewide benchmark to the city that matches the actual search area. Each page carries its local tax geography, home-value benchmark, and nearby comparisons.
48 city pages
Common questions
Planning a mortgage in California
How much is an estimated mortgage payment in California?
Using the current $764,200 statewide home-value benchmark, 20% down, a 6.75% 30-year planning rate, the 0.69% midpoint property-tax assumption, and a 0.35% insurance assumption, the estimated monthly payment is $4,628. Actual property, loan, tax, and insurance details can differ.
Does the California mortgage estimate include property taxes?
Yes. The statewide examples use a 0.69% midpoint from the available city-page assumptions. A property-specific estimate should use the actual parcel, assessment, exemptions, and local taxing districts.
How much down payment should I compare in California?
The page compares 5%, 10%, and 20% down. A smaller down payment reduces upfront cash but can increase the loan balance and may add mortgage insurance. Program and loan requirements vary.
Where should I verify California homebuyer assistance?
Start with each linked official program source. Verify current funding, income limits, purchase-price limits, property rules, participating lenders, and first-time-buyer definitions before relying on assistance.
Planning rate
6.75%
Tax midpoint
0.69%
Benchmark period
August 2026
Continue planning
Connect this estimate to the rest of your budget
Use the next calculator only when that part of your financial picture affects the decision you are making here.