Loading
Loading
Cathedral City sits in Riverside County where the median household income of $89,672 stretches to cover homes in the $750K-$850K range. At today's rate of 5.875%, a $750,000 loan on a $937,500 purchase runs $4,437 monthly for principal and interest alone.
The conforming limit here is $832,750, so buyers with 20% down can finance up to that cap without jumbo pricing. Most Cathedral City buyers in this range are refinancing equity or moving up from smaller properties in the county.
5.875%
Interest Rate
$4,437
Monthly P&I
620
Min FICO
$832,750
Conforming Limit
3% to 25%
Down Payment
30 days
Lock Period
Conforming Loans in Cathedral City
Conforming loans require a minimum 620 FICO, but lenders in California typically start at 640 for the best rates. At 740 FICO, you qualify for par pricing with no rate penalty. Down payment ranges from 3% to 25%, though 20% eliminates PMI entirely.
Riverside County's median household income of $89,672 supports a $750,000 mortgage comfortably at standard 43% debt-to-income limits.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect conforming loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Cathedral City.
Cathedral City sits in Riverside County where the median household income of $89,672 stretches to cover homes in the $750K-$850K range. At today's rate of 5.875%, a $750,000 loan on a $937,500 purchase runs $4,437 monthly for principal and interest alone.
The conforming limit here is $832,750, so buyers with 20% down can finance up to that cap without jumbo pricing. Most Cathedral City buyers in this range are refinancing equity or moving up from smaller properties in the county.
Conforming loans require a minimum 620 FICO, but lenders in California typically start at 640 for the best rates. At 740 FICO, you qualify for par pricing with no rate penalty. Down payment ranges from 3% to 25%, though 20% eliminates PMI entirely.
California's conforming market is dominated by retail banks and mortgage brokers. Brokers typically close 2-3 weeks faster than retail because they shop multiple lenders instead of routing everything through one bank's underwriting queue.
Agency rules (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) are the same everywhere in California. The difference is execution speed and customer service. Brokers can offer better rates on conforming loans because they compete daily for your business.
Conforming loans make sense in Cathedral City when you're buying between $600K and $832K with 20% down. Below that, FHA's lower rate often wins despite lifetime mortgage insurance. Above $832K, jumbo pricing kicks in and rates jump 0.375-0.5%.
At $750K with 740 FICO and 20% down, conforming beats FHA because you skip mortgage insurance entirely. The $1,462 in discount points (about 0.195 points) is a one-time cost that pays back in 18-24 months versus FHA's permanent insurance drain.
FHA loans in Cathedral City run lower rates than conforming but carry mortgage insurance for life if you put down less than 10%. At 10% down, MIP cancels after 11 years. Conforming at 20% down has zero insurance and zero rate penalty.
The trade-off is simple: FHA gets you in with 3.5% down but costs more per month forever. Conforming costs more upfront but saves $150-200 monthly once you hit 20% equity. Call for today's FHA quote to compare the actual numbers.
Cathedral City's location in the Coachella Valley puts buyers within 15 minutes of downtown Palm Springs and 2 hours of Los Angeles. That proximity supports home values and makes conforming financing attractive for buyers who plan to stay 7+ years.
The area's golf courses, resort amenities, and year-round weather draw retirees and remote workers. That stable buyer pool keeps appreciation steady, which means your conforming loan builds equity faster than in markets with volatile demand.
At 5.875% APR on a $750,000 loan, principal and interest run $4,437 per month. That's based on a $937,500 purchase with $187,500 down (20% LTV), 740 FICO, 30-day lock as of April 8, 2026.
Yes. 20% down (80% LTV) is the only way to skip PMI on a conforming loan. You can put down 3%, 5%, or 10% and carry PMI, but it never cancels automatically. At 20%, there's zero insurance and zero rate penalty.
Minimum 620 FICO, but California lenders typically start at 640 for competitive rates. At 740 FICO or higher, you get par pricing with no rate adjustment. Each 20-point drop below 740 can cost 0.125-0.25% in rate.
At 43% debt-to-income, you need roughly $7,400 gross monthly income ($88,800 annually). Riverside County's median household income is $89,672, so a typical county household qualifies. Your actual approval depends on all debts, not just the mortgage.
Conforming loans max out at $832,750 in this county. Jumbo loans above that require 20% down, 700+ FICO, and 6-12 months reserves. Jumbo rates typically run 0.375-0.5% higher than conforming, making them expensive for Cathedral City buyers.