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First California Mortgage

Logo: firstcal.net3

First California Mortgage Company (First Cal) was an American mortgage lender based in Petaluma, California, that had branches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas, and Washington until the company was closed down. First Cal provided mortgage loans in these states plus Idaho, New Mexico and Oregon, and previously provided loans in 42 U.S. states. As of 2013, First Cal had funded more than 300,000 home loans, mostly in California, and had a Better Business Bureau rating of A−.2 It was founded in 1977.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1977Founded1

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First California Mortgage Company (First Cal) was an American mortgage lender based in Petaluma, California, that had branches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas, and Washington until the company was closed down. First Cal provided mortgage loans in these states plus Idaho, New Mexico and Oregon, and previously provided loans in 42 U.S. states.2

The story

First Cal was founded in 1977 by Dennis Hart to provide builder and retail financing. In 1986 they expanded, opening a wholesale division called Headlands Mortgage. First Cal sold its loan and servicing operations to a fortune 500 company in 1995. Three years later, Headlands was taken public (NASDAQ: HDLD) prior to being sold to GreenPoint Mortgage in 1999.

In 2003, First Cal resumed mortgage lending to serve mortgage brokers and retail borrowers in the San Francisco Bay Area behind President Christopher K Hart, son of Dennis Hart. Today, First Cal holds licenses to lend in 9 states.

From Wikipedia’s article on First California Mortgage, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

  • financial services

Listed on Wikidata.1

In 2010, First Cal had a silver sponsor and participates as a team in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. First Cal also participates in The Pajama Program, which provided pajamas and books to children in need.

From Wikipedia’s article on First California Mortgage, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 1977Founded Founded1

Sources

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