Los Alamitos at a glance
- Population: 11,901 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 354th-largest of 482 places in California.
- 2020 Census base: 11,780 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 1.0% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 354th of 482 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 27% of places in California are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 33.7969 latitude, -118.0612 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Cypress, CA (2 mi); Hawaiian Gardens, CA (2 mi); Seal Beach, CA (3 mi); Stanton, CA (4 mi); La Palma, CA (4 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Signal Hill, CA (6 mi); La Habra Heights, CA (13 mi); Villa Park, CA (14 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Los Alamitos
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
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 Los Alamitos
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Los Alamitos
Before you commit to a personal loan in Los Alamitos, work through these steps:
- 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.