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Loan Comparisons

Compare Mortgage Programs

Side-by-side comparisons of California's most popular mortgage programs. See the differences in rates, requirements, and total costs to make an informed decision.

FHA LoansvsConventional Loans

FHA vs. Conventional Loans

FHA and conventional loans are the two most popular mortgage options in California. Choosing the right one can save you ...

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FHA LoansvsVA Loans

FHA vs. VA Loans

If you have military service, the VA loan is almost always the better choice over FHA. Here's the detailed comparison sh...

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Hard Money LoansvsConventional Loans

Hard Money vs. Conventional Loans

Hard money and conventional loans serve fundamentally different purposes. Understanding when to use each can save you mo...

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DSCR LoansvsConventional Investment Loans

DSCR vs. Conventional for Investment Properties

Both DSCR and conventional loans finance rental properties, but they qualify differently and scale differently. Here's h...

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Bank Statement LoansvsFull Documentation (Conventional)

Bank Statement vs. Full Documentation Loans

Self-employed Californians face a unique dilemma: the tax deductions that save you money make your income look lower to ...

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Jumbo LoansvsConforming (Conventional) Loans

Jumbo vs. Conforming Loans in California

In California, the line between conforming and jumbo is $1,209,750. Here's what changes when you cross it β€” and strategi...

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15-Year Mortgagevs30-Year Mortgage

15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage

The term of your mortgage dramatically affects your monthly payment, total interest paid, and wealth-building timeline. ...

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Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)vsFixed-Rate Mortgage

ARM vs. Fixed-Rate Mortgage

Adjustable-rate mortgages offer lower initial rates but carry risk. Fixed rates offer stability but cost more upfront. H...

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VA LoansvsConventional Loans

VA vs. Conventional Loans

VA loans are generally the best deal in mortgage lending. But there are rare situations where conventional could make mo...

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HELOCvsHome Equity Loan

HELOC vs. Home Equity Loan

Both let you borrow against your California home's equity, but they work very differently. Here's how to choose the righ...

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Last updated: July 2026. Sources: FHFA, HUD, VA, CalHFA, CFPB, California DRE, California Association of Realtors. All loans subject to credit approval. Rates subject to change.

About This Website

Mortgage Guide California is an Independent Educational Publisher

This website provides free mortgage education for California homebuyers, homeowners, and investors. All content is written and reviewed by licensed mortgage professionals. We are not a lender or broker β€” we are an educational resource.

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Mortgage Guide California is an independent educational publisher. All mortgage services, rate quotes, and loan applications are handled by Save Financial, Inc. (NMLS #377740, DRE #01875766), a California-licensed mortgage broker. Equal Housing Lender. All loans subject to credit approval.

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