California Mortgage Lending
990 lenders reporting under HMDA
Statewide mortgage activity. Lenders filed 1,023,783 HMDA-reported mortgage applications in California in 2024, originating 509,170 loans and denying 180,402. That puts the statewide denial rate at 17.6% and the approval (origination) rate at 49.7%. The average loan amount across California was $507,281 at an average note rate of 7.32%. 990 distinct institutions, banks, credit unions, and independent mortgage companies, filed HMDA data covering activity in the state. Applications span 58 counties and 33 metropolitan areas.
What drives state-level differences. State mortgage denial rates reflect applicant mix more than lender stance. Credit profiles, loan-to-value ratios, debt-to-income, property type, and rural-versus-urban composition all move the number before any lender policy does. Demographic lending data reported under HMDA shows variation across applicant groups, for example, White applicants had an approval rate of 56.8% and denial rate of 18.6%; while Asian applicants had an approval rate of 56.2% and denial rate of 16.7%. These are derived race categories as reported by applicants and do not by themselves prove causation; credit score, income, and loan-to-value are not reported in HMDA and drive much of the underlying variation. Top counties by volume include Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Diego County.
How to read this page. These are aggregate 2024 HMDA disclosures published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal transparency dataset, not a real-time market feed. A state-level number is useful for context but cannot tell you what rate, fees, or underwriting any individual lender will offer a specific borrower. This page is informational data reporting, not financial, legal, or mortgage advice. Shop at least three lenders, compare Loan Estimates line-by-line, and consult a licensed mortgage professional before applying. Data reflects the CFPB HMDA 2024 Snapshot National Loan-Level Dataset; demographic fields reflect derived categories as reported by applicants.
Nearby Lenders in California
Top HMDA-reporting lenders active in California. Compare any two side-by-side for rates, denial rates, and loan mix.
| # | Lender | Originated | Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Wholesale Mortgage | 55,408 | 10.9% |
| 2 | Rocket Mortgage | 37,412 | 7.3% |
| 3 | Us Bank, N.A. | 16,584 | 3.3% |
| 4 | Bank of America NA | 16,248 | 3.2% |
| 5 | Schoolsfirst FCU | 12,403 | 2.4% |
Lending by Race in California
Derived race categories as reported under HMDA. Source: CFPB.
| Race | Applications | Approval Rate | Denial Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 446,318 | 56.8% | 18.6% |
| Asian | 153,966 | 56.2% | 16.7% |
| Black or African American | 39,294 | 46.1% | 25.8% |
| Joint | 28,638 | 63.1% | 14.2% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 8,817 | 46.1% | 26.4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 4,205 | 45.6% | 27.2% |
| 2 or more minority races | 2,819 | 47.5% | 26.3% |
Counties in California
| County | Applications | Originated | Denial Rate | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | 199,303 | 94,659 | 19.2% | $603,012 |
| Riverside County | 99,004 | 47,106 | 18.3% | $383,016 |
| San Diego County | 92,449 | 46,550 | 17.8% | $569,471 |
| Orange County | 74,094 | 39,024 | 16.8% | $661,167 |
| San Bernardino County | 72,525 | 33,497 | 19.0% | $331,752 |
| Sacramento County | 50,869 | 26,101 | 16.2% | $357,532 |
| Santa Clara County | 38,038 | 21,169 | 14.5% | $909,509 |
| Alameda County | 36,330 | 19,267 | 15.3% | $669,268 |
| Contra Costa County | 34,282 | 17,775 | 16.9% | $526,073 |
| Kern County | 28,510 | 13,645 | 17.5% | $265,913 |
| Fresno County | 27,307 | 13,008 | 19.9% | $290,366 |
| San Joaquin County | 26,780 | 13,001 | 17.6% | $366,913 |
| Ventura County | 21,390 | 10,992 | 17.5% | $489,635 |
| Placer County | 18,341 | 10,040 | 14.5% | $434,041 |
| Solano County | 15,279 | 7,684 | 17.2% | $369,277 |
| Stanislaus County | 15,191 | 7,263 | 18.7% | $311,366 |
| San Mateo County | 13,352 | 7,568 | 14.9% | $965,594 |
| Sonoma County | 12,518 | 6,716 | 14.8% | $508,879 |
| Tulare County | 11,926 | 5,716 | 18.5% | $256,248 |
| San Francisco County | 11,333 | 6,245 | 14.4% | $898,021 |
| Santa Barbara County | 8,902 | 4,528 | 18.2% | $595,042 |
| San Luis Obispo County | 8,034 | 4,193 | 17.4% | $468,880 |
| Monterey County | 7,818 | 3,794 | 19.5% | $491,779 |
| El Dorado County | 7,612 | 4,065 | 16.2% | $391,419 |
| Merced County | 7,208 | 3,449 | 17.7% | $288,270 |
| Madera County | 6,458 | 3,114 | 18.3% | $300,167 |
| Shasta County | 6,433 | 3,089 | 15.7% | $250,514 |
| Marin County | 6,045 | 3,363 | 15.9% | $773,404 |
| Butte County | 5,543 | 2,835 | 16.2% | $271,778 |
| Santa Cruz County | 5,082 | 2,661 | 16.8% | $615,175 |
| Yolo County | 4,868 | 2,713 | 14.5% | $418,564 |
| Kings County | 4,595 | 2,230 | 16.6% | $272,758 |
| Nevada County | 3,969 | 2,103 | 16.5% | $373,186 |
| Yuba County | 3,722 | 1,821 | 15.2% | $317,595 |
| Imperial County | 3,618 | 1,723 | 18.9% | $250,180 |
| Napa County | 3,462 | 1,806 | 18.1% | $520,465 |
| Sutter County | 2,547 | 1,287 | 18.4% | $273,123 |
| Lake County | 2,438 | 1,101 | 20.6% | $239,323 |
| Humboldt County | 2,334 | 1,132 | 19.1% | $265,947 |
| San Benito County | 2,333 | 1,132 | 16.4% | $488,330 |
| Calaveras County | 2,207 | 1,097 | 18.3% | $284,098 |
| Tehama County | 1,943 | 939 | 17.6% | $231,881 |
| Tuolumne County | 1,907 | 968 | 18.6% | $255,954 |
| Amador County | 1,696 | 840 | 18.5% | $272,618 |
| Mendocino County | 1,668 | 819 | 19.5% | $329,820 |
| Siskiyou County | 1,101 | 538 | 18.8% | $206,045 |
| Del Norte County | 701 | 327 | 19.5% | $256,469 |
| Lassen County | 697 | 310 | 16.5% | $181,600 |
| Mono County | 684 | 369 | 16.2% | $535,775 |
| Plumas County | 672 | 374 | 15.5% | $262,024 |
| Glenn County | 626 | 318 | 18.4% | $220,112 |
| Mariposa County | 622 | 283 | 20.6% | $282,669 |
| Colusa County | 396 | 193 | 23.5% | $255,732 |
| Inyo County | 376 | 180 | 16.2% | $282,926 |
| Trinity County | 317 | 147 | 18.9% | $209,763 |
| Modoc County | 170 | 70 | 23.5% | $176,235 |
| Sierra County | 97 | 49 | 23.7% | $222,526 |
| Alpine County | 65 | 35 | 15.4% | $358,538 |
Metro Areas in California
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mortgage applications were filed in California?
What is the mortgage denial rate in California?
What is the average mortgage loan amount in California?
How many mortgage lenders operate in California?
How do mortgage denial rates vary by demographics in California?
Which counties in California have the most mortgage activity?
Mortgage Lending Guides
Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) 2024. State geography per U.S. Census Bureau standards.
Data from FFIEC / CFPB HMDA Snapshot National Loan-Level Dataset (2024). Demographic data reflects derived categories as reported by applicants. Provided for informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainLender is rendered directly from CFPB HMDA federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on CFPB HMDA federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.