Dana Point at a glance
- Population: 32,567 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 228th-largest of 482 places in California.
- 2020 Census base: 33,103 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 1.6% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 228th-largest of 482 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 53% of the Census places in California (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 33.4755, -117.6931.
- Nearest larger cities: San Juan Capistrano, CA (3 mi); Laguna Niguel, CA (4 mi); San Clemente, CA (5 mi); Aliso Viejo, CA (7 mi); Mission Viejo, CA (9 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller towns nearby: Laguna Beach, CA (6 mi); Laguna Hills, CA (8 mi); Laguna Woods, CA (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Dana Point
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
California lending rules that apply in Dana Point
The table carries the California rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Dana Point.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Dana Point
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Dana Point:
- 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.