Laguna Beach at a glance
- Population: about 22,332 residents, ranking 284th of 482 Census places in California (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 23,031 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 3.0% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 284th by size among 482 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 41% of California's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 33.5434, -117.7618.
- Nearest larger cities: Aliso Viejo, CA (3 mi); Laguna Niguel, CA (4 mi); Laguna Hills, CA (5 mi); Dana Point, CA (6 mi); San Juan Capistrano, CA (7 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places close by: Laguna Woods, CA (5 mi); Villa Park, CA (19 mi); Los Alamitos, CA (25 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Laguna Beach
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
California lending rules that apply in Laguna Beach
The California rate caps and licensing rules that reach Laguna Beach are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001 as of 2026-09-16 |
| 36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539) | Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum". | California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036). | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Finance lender/broker license required from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (California Financing Law) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22100 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Laguna Beach
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Laguna Beach:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in California using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.