Marin County Mortgage Rates: What Buyers Are Paying Now

I’m Michael DiVita — DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655, DiVita Home Finance (DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700), Tiburon, CA. I’ve been in California mortgage lending since 2000 and founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007, and Marin is my home market. Call (800) 239-1103.

Marin County buyers live in a different rate world from the one on national rate sites. Those headlines are mostly conforming loans under $832,750. In Marin, where C.A.R. put the August 2026 median single-family price at $1,650,500, most purchases need a high-balance conforming loan (up to $1,249,125) or a jumbo loan above it — and jumbo rates are set lender by lender. Here’s how Marin rates actually work in late 2026, and how to make sure you’re getting a competitive one.

Where Rates Stand Right Now

As a benchmark, Freddie Mac’s weekly survey put the national 30-year fixed at 7.03% on September 24, 2026 (15-year: 6.42%). The Federal Reserve raised its policy rate to 3.75%–4.00% on September 16, and the 10-year Treasury was trading above 5% the following week. Daily lender pricing moves faster than the weekly survey, and on volatile days it can run above it.

I don’t publish a rate table on this page, because a table that’s a week old is a wrong table. Your actual rate depends on your loan size, credit, down payment, property, and documentation — and on which lender is hungriest for your loan that day. Call or text me and I’ll price your exact scenario against today’s rate sheets.

Conforming, High-Balance, or Jumbo? The Marin Loan Tiers

Marin’s 2026 FHA limit is also $1,249,125, and eligible veterans with full VA entitlement have no VA loan limit at all. Details are in my 2026 conforming loan limits guide and VA loans in California.

Why Your Marin Rate Differs From What You See Online

National sites mostly show conforming rates for loans under $832,750, often with points paid. If you’re borrowing $1.5 million, that number doesn’t apply to you. High-balance conforming loans carry an extra Fannie/Freddie pricing adjustment, and jumbo loans are priced by each lender’s own appetite — which is why jumbo pricing varies more from lender to lender than conforming pricing does. For strong borrowers, jumbo pricing can be close to high-balance pricing, and occasionally better. The only way to know is to compare.

That’s the core reason to use a broker in Marin: I can put your scenario in front of multiple jumbo lenders at once and show you real competing offers — something a single bank can’t do.

What Moves Your Jumbo Rate

• Credit score. Jumbo lenders commonly tier pricing at 700, 720, 740, and 760+. If you’re a few points below a tier, it can pay to wait a month or two and fix it.
• Down payment (LTV). 20% down usually prices meaningfully better than 10–15%, and 25–30% better still. Many jumbo programs allow 10% down for strong borrowers, and some go lower.
• Loan size. Pricing often gets tighter on very large loans ($3 million and up), where fewer lenders compete.
• Reserves. Jumbo lenders look hard at liquid assets left after closing — often 6–12 months of payments or more, depending on the loan size and program.
• Property. Condos with HOA issues, rural or acreage properties, and homes in high fire-risk areas can narrow your lender list. Insurance availability matters too — see the FAIR Plan guide.
• Income documentation. W-2 borrowers get the cleanest pricing. Self-employed borrowers with heavy write-offs may do better with a bank statement loan, which costs more but qualifies on deposits.
• Lock length and points. A 30-day lock prices better than a 60-day lock. One discount point (1% of the loan) often lowers the rate by about 0.125%–0.25%; whether it’s worth it depends on how long you’ll keep the loan.

Marin Payment Scenarios

Principal and interest only on a 30-year fixed, at an illustrative 7.00% rate — not a quote. Add property taxes (roughly 1.1%–1.3% of price in much of Marin, including local assessments), insurance, and any HOA dues.

On a $2.4 million loan, a 0.25% difference is about $400 a month. That’s why shopping a Marin jumbo is worth the effort.

Loan Structures That Work in Marin

High-balance first + second mortgage

If you’re just over $1,249,125, a high-balance conforming first mortgage plus a second lien (a fixed second or HELOC) can sometimes beat a single jumbo loan — or let you buy with less down. Example: on a $1,650,500 purchase with 10% down, a $1,249,125 first and a roughly $236,000 second. Whether that beats a 90% jumbo depends on the day’s pricing; I run both.

Jumbo ARMs

If you realistically expect to move up, sell, or refinance within 7–10 years, a 7/6 or 10/6 jumbo ARM may price below a 30-year fixed. Understand the caps and worst-case payment first. See ARM vs. fixed.

Interest-only jumbo

Some high-net-worth buyers use interest-only periods to manage cash flow. Qualification is usually on the fully amortizing payment. See interest-only options.

Buying before you sell

Move-up buyers in Marin often need to buy before selling. A bridge loan or a HELOC on your current home can fund the down payment so you can write a non-contingent offer.

Seller-paid buydowns

When a listing has been sitting, a seller credit toward a temporary or permanent rate buydown can be worth more than a price cut.

Local Notes

• Tiburon, Belvedere, Ross, Kentfield: Loan sizes regularly exceed $2–3 million. Asset-based qualification, interest-only, and large-balance jumbo programs matter here. See Marin jumbo loans.
• Mill Valley, Corte Madera, Larkspur: Mostly standard jumbo territory. Many families here choose ARMs because they expect to move within 7–10 years.
• Novato and San Rafael: The best chance to stay within high-balance conforming or FHA limits. New-construction builders sometimes offer rate buydowns.
• Sausalito and hillside condos: Check the HOA early — reserves, litigation, and SB 326 balcony inspections affect financing. See non-warrantable condo loans.
• West Marin (Point Reyes, Inverness, Bolinas, Stinson): Rural, acreage, and fire-exposed properties often need portfolio or non-QM lenders. Confirm your lender can close before you write the offer.

How to Get the Best Marin Mortgage Rate

1. Get fully underwritten before you shop. A credit-approved buyer negotiates from strength and can lock faster.
2. Know your credit tier. A small score improvement can move you into better pricing.
3. Compare jumbo lenders, not just rates. Look at APR, lender fees, and points together.
4. Lock once you’re in contract and the payment works. See my rate lock guide.
5. Ask about ARMs and buydowns if your time horizon is shorter than 30 years.

If a bank has already told you no — because you’re self-employed, your income is mostly RSUs, or the property is unusual — call me. Finding the lender that says yes is what I do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Marin County mortgage rates higher than the national average?

Not because of the county itself. Marin rates look higher because most Marin loans are high-balance conforming or jumbo, while national averages mostly reflect standard conforming loans. High-balance loans carry an extra pricing adjustment, and jumbo pricing varies by lender; strong jumbo borrowers can sometimes match or beat high-balance pricing.

What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Marin County?

$1,249,125 for a single-family home, the highest tier in California, shared with San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties. Loans above that are jumbo loans.

Should I choose a fixed or adjustable rate in Marin?

If this is your long-term home, a 30-year fixed gives you certainty. If you expect to sell, move up, or refinance within 7–10 years, a 7/6 or 10/6 jumbo ARM may cost less during the fixed period. Make sure you understand the adjustment caps and worst-case payment before choosing an ARM.

How much down payment do I need for a Marin jumbo loan?

Many jumbo programs allow 10% down for strong borrowers, and 20% or more usually gets better pricing. Lenders also look for reserves after closing, often 6–12 months of payments or more. A high-balance first mortgage plus a second lien can be an alternative when you’re near the $1,249,125 line.

How often do Marin mortgage rates change?

Daily, and sometimes more than once a day, because rates follow the bond market. A quote from two weeks ago may no longer be available. Once you’re in contract and the payment works, locking protects you.

Can a self-employed buyer get a jumbo loan in Marin?

Yes. Beyond full-documentation jumbo loans, bank statement, P&L, and asset-based programs can qualify self-employed and asset-rich borrowers whose tax returns understate their income. They typically cost more than a full-documentation loan.

Related Resources

• Marin County Mortgage Broker
• Marin County Jumbo Loans
• Marin County Home Prices
• California Mortgage Rates
• Why Mortgage Rates Change Daily
• Should I Buy Now or Wait?
• Case Study: A $2.15M Marin Jumbo in 9 Days