California Mortgage Calculator
This California mortgage calculator estimates your monthly payment, combining the loan's principal and interest with the California property tax. Enter the home price, your down payment, the loan term and an interest rate, and it shows the monthly principal and interest plus the estimated property tax at the California median effective rate of 0.71% of home value, which the US Census Bureau reports for the state. Principal and interest are computed with the standard amortised mortgage formula. The interest rate is a user-editable input because mortgage rates are set by lenders and depend on your credit, down payment and the market, so there is no single official rate for California; enter a quote from your lender or use the national average. The property tax shown is the state median; your county and municipality set the actual rate, so check your county assessor. Homeowners insurance, private mortgage insurance for down payments under 20%, and HOA dues are not included. Use this to estimate what a home in California would cost each month and how the property tax adds to the loan payment. The property tax rate is sourced from the Census; the loan maths is the standard formula.
A $400,000 home in California (20% down, 30-year loan at 6.5%) is about $2,022.62 a month principal and interest, plus roughly $236.67 property tax (at California's 0.71% median rate), about $2,259.28 total.
How the California mortgage payment is calculated
loan = home price x (1 - down payment %)
monthly P and I = loan x r (1+r)^n / ((1+r)^n - 1), r = rate/12, n = years x 12
monthly property tax = home price x 0.71% / 12
monthly payment = principal and interest + property tax
California mortgage: frequently asked questions
What is the monthly mortgage payment on a $400,000 home in California?
With 20% down ($80,000), a 30-year loan at 6.5%, the principal and interest is about $2,022.62 a month. Adding California's median property tax of about $236.67 a month gives roughly $2,259.28. Insurance and HOA fees are extra. Adjust the rate and inputs for your own figures.
How much is property tax on a home in California?
The California median effective property tax rate is 0.71% of home value (US Census). On a $400,000 home that is about $2,840 a year, or $236.67 a month. Your local rate is set by your county and may differ.
What mortgage rate should I use for California?
Mortgage rates are set by lenders and depend on your credit, down payment and the market, so there is no single official California rate. The rate here is a user-editable input; enter a quote from your lender. The weekly national average is published by Freddie Mac.
Does this include taxes and insurance?
It includes principal, interest and the California median property tax. Homeowners insurance, private mortgage insurance (if your down payment is under 20%) and any HOA dues are not included and vary by property and lender.
Official sources
- California median property tax rate (ACS 2023): US Census Bureau, as at Jun 25, 2026. Mortgage interest rate is a market figure (user-editable, no government source).
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 26 June 2026. See our methodology. General information, not financial advice. Insurance, PMI and HOA fees are not included.