Everyone asks about the rate first. Fair enough. Let's talk about it — then let's talk about the parts that actually decide whether a deal pencils. What are hard money loan rates in California right now? In 2026, hard money loan rates in California typically run 9% to 13%, plus 1.5 to 3.5 points in origination fees, depending on the deal. California tends to sit at the lower end of the national range — more lenders competing for the same deals keeps pricing tighter here than