Sunshine Properties Blog

Sunshine Properties Blog

Subscribe and receive email notifications of new blog posts.




rss logo RSS Feed
Uncategorized | 872 Posts
November
22

California's financial regulator suspends SALT Lending's license

Click Here to Read More...

November
22

CALIFORNIA AVOCADO-STUDDED MAC 'N CHEESE

Click Here to Read More...

November
22

For release:
November 16, 2022   


California home sales bear brunt of higher interest rates in October, C.A.R. reports

  • Existing, single-family home sales totaled 274,040 in October on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down 10.4 percent from September and down 36.9 percent from October 2021.

  • October's statewide median home price was, $801,190 down 2.5 percent from September and up 0.3 percent from October 2021.

  • Year-to-date statewide home sales were down 18.5 percent in October.

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 16) – California's housing market continued shifting in October as the monthly average 30-year fixed rate mortgage hovered near 7 percent and led to the lowest sales level since February 2008 and the largest year-over-year decline since December 2007, outside of the pandemic, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) said today.

Infographic:  https://www.car.org/Global/Infographics/2022-10-Sales-and-Price

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 274,040 in October, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. The statewide annualized sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2022 if sales maintained the October pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales. October's sales pace was down 10.4 percent on a monthly basis from 305,680 in September and down 36.9 percent from a year ago, when 434,170 homes were sold on an annualized basis.

Home sales have been on a downward trend for 16 straight months on a year-over-year basis. It was the third time in the last four months that sales dropped more than 30 percent from the year-ago level. The monthly 10.4 percent sales decline was worse than the long-run average of +0.5 percent change recorded between a September and an October in the past 43 years. Sales in all price segments continued to drop by 30 percent or more year-over-year, with the $750,000-$999,000 price segment falling the most at 40.8 percent. The high-end market ($1 million-$1,999,000) experienced the smallest sales drop at 34.1 percent.

"While October's sales and price results were weaker than what we've experienced in the past couple of years and could slow further in the upcoming off-season, the market bottom could be in sight," said 2023 C.A.R. President Jennifer Branchini, a Bay Area REALTOR®. "Homes are still selling relatively quickly at 23 days on the market, one in four homes is selling above list price due to limited inventory, and with median price growth remaining positive in four of the five price segments, home prices are holding up reasonably well."

California's median home price declined 2.5 percent in October to $801,190 from the $821,680 recorded in September. The October price was 0.3 percent higher than the $798,440 recorded last October and was the smallest year-over-year price gain in 29 months. October marked the fifth consecutive month with a single-digit annual price increase. With the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate expected to remain above 6.5 percent for the rest of the year, home prices will moderate further in the coming months as affordability remains a challenge.   

"Excluding the three-month pandemic lockdown period in spring 2020, October's sales level was the lowest since February 2008. With pending sales showing a 50 percent drop from a year ago,  we can expect additional tempering in housing demand in the coming months, as we previously forecasted," said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Jordan Levine. "Home prices will also moderate further over the next several months as interest rates remain elevated in the near term and seasonal factors come into play."

 

Other key points from C.A.R.'s October 2022 resale housing report include:

  • At the regional level, sales continued to fall sharply from last year, with four of the five major regions falling more than 35 percent from last year. Southern California had the biggest annual drop in sales at 40.8 percent, as every county within the region experienced a sales decline of more than 30 percent in October. The Central Coast (-38.8 percent), the San Francisco Bay Area (-37.3 percent) and the Central Valley (-36.4 percent) also posted sales declines of more than 35 percent from last year, with the declines worsening as borrowing costs continued to climb. The Far North (-19.1 percent) recorded the smallest sales declines of the five major regions, but it also has been dropping by double-digits for five straight months.

     

  • All but one California county recorded a year-over-year sales decline in October, with 41 of them plunging more than 20 percent from the like period a year ago. Madera (-52.4 percent) and Sutter (-52.4 percent) had the biggest sales drops of all counties, followed by San Bernardino (-47.9 percent), and Napa (-47.5 percent). Mariposa was the only county that did not experience an annual sales decline as sales in the county remained unchanged from last October.

     

  • More than half of all counties in California maintained positive year-over-year median-price growth in October. Prices were up from last year by double-digits in eight counties in October compared to five counties in the prior month. Santa Barbara (33.2 percent) had the biggest price increase of all counties, due primarily to a change in the mix of sales, followed by Lassen (24.9 percent) and Santa Cruz (19.9 percent). Twenty-two counties recorded a dip in their median price from a year ago, with Tehama dropping the most at -20.6 percent. Three other counties posted price declines in the double-digits, including Amador (-15.2 percent), Mariposa (-12.3 percent), and San Mateo (-10.0 percent).

     

  • With many potential buyers putting their home buying plans on hold, housing inventory in California rose month-to-month and year-to-year at the start of the fourth quarter. The statewide Unsold Inventory Index (UII) increased to 3.3 months in October 2022 from 2.9 months recorded in the prior month and from 1.8 months recorded in the same period a year ago. The UII increased in all price ranges by 75 percent or more from a year ago, with the $500,000 - $749,000 price range gaining the most (88.2 percent), followed by the $750,000 - $999,000 price range (83.3 percent), the $1 million and up (82.4 percent), and the sub- $500,000 (75.0 percent) segment.

     

  • Forty-seven of the 51 counties tracked by C.A.R. experienced an increase in active listings from last October, a slight dip from 48 counties recorded in September. Five counties registered a triple-digit, year-over-year gain in October with Yolo (113.0 percent) leading the pack, followed by Merced (106.8 percent), Marin (105.7 percent), Placer (104.0 percent), and Yuba (103.8 percent). Despite an overall improvement in the housing supply conditions, four counties experienced a contraction in active listings from last year. Del Norte continued to register the largest decline in October, with a drop of -48.8 percent year-over-year, followed by Mono (-33.3 percent), Plumas (-16.8 percent) and Siskiyou (-12.3 percent).

  • The median number of days it took to sell a California single-family home was 23 days in October and 11 days in October 2021.
  • C.A.R.'s statewide sales-price-to-list-price ratio* was 97.3 percent in October 2022 and 101.5 percent in October 2021.

  • The statewide average price per square foot** for an existing single-family home was $404, up from $389 in October a year ago.

  • The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaged 6.90 percent in October, up from 3.07 percent in October 2021, according to Freddie Mac. The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate averaged 5.71 percent, compared to 2.54 percent in October 2021.

Note:  The County MLS median price and sales data in the tables are generated from a survey of more than 90 associations of REALTORS® throughout the state and represent statistics of existing single-family detached homes only. County sales data is not adjusted to account for seasonal factors that can influence home sales. Movements in sales prices should not be interpreted as changes in the cost of a standard home. The median price is where half sold for more and half sold for less; medians are more typical than average prices, which are skewed by a relatively small share of transactions at either the lower end or the upper end. Median prices can be influenced by changes in cost, as well as changes in the characteristics and the size of homes sold. The change in median prices should not be construed as actual price changes in specific homes.

*Sales-to-list-price ratio is an indicator that reflects the negotiation power of home buyers and home sellers under current market conditions. The ratio is calculated by dividing the final sales price of a property by its last list price and is expressed as a percentage. A sales-to-list ratio with 100 percent or above suggests that the property sold for more than the list price, and a ratio below 100 percent indicates that the price sold below the asking price.

**Price per square foot is a measure commonly used by real estate agents and brokers to determine how much a square foot of space a buyer will pay for a property. It is calculated as the sale price of the home divided by the number of finished square feet. C.A.R. currently tracks price-per-square foot statistics for 50 counties.

Leading the way…® in California real estate for more than 110 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®(www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States with more than 217,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.

 

October 2022 County Sales and Price Activity
(Regional and condo sales data not seasonally adjusted)

October 2022

Median Sold Price of Existing Single-Family Homes

Sales

State/Region/County

Oct.

2022

Sept.

2022

 

Oct.

2021

 

Price MTM% Chg

Price YTY% Chg

Sales MTM% Chg

Sales YTY% Chg

Calif. Single-family home

$801,190

$821,680

 

$798,440

 

-2.5%

0.3%

-10.4%

-36.9%

Calif. Condo/Townhome

$621,080

$620,000

 

$605,000

 

0.2%

2.7%

-12.5%

-40.1%

Los Angeles Metro Area

$742,570

$750,000

 

$725,000

 

-1.0%

2.4%

-12.2%

-40.8%

Central Coast

$937,500

$920,000

 

$865,420

 

1.9%

8.3%

-22.3%

-38.8%

Central Valley

$450,000

$456,000

 

$450,000

 

-1.3%

0.0%

-14.8%

-36.4%

Far North

$394,000

$380,000

 

$370,000

 

3.7%

6.5%

-10.0%

-19.1%

Inland Empire

$550,000

$562,240

 

$525,000

 

-2.2%

4.8%

-17.8%

-44.1%

San Francisco Bay Area

$1,250,000

$1,256,500

 

$1,275,000

 

-0.5%

-2.0%

-13.7%

-37.3%

Southern California

$773,810

$783,380

 

$750,000

 

-1.2%

3.2%

-12.9%

-40.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Francisco Bay Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alameda

$1,250,000

$1,240,000

 

$1,280,000

 

0.8%

-2.3%

-15.1%

-35.7%

Contra Costa

$867,000

$882,000

 

$900,500

 

-1.7%

-3.7%

-16.0%

-38.3%

Marin

$1,662,500

$1,735,000

 

$1,685,000

 

-4.2%

-1.3%

-0.7%

-15.6%

Napa

$975,000

$987,000

 

$850,000

 

-1.2%

14.7%

-30.3%

-47.5%

San Francisco

$1,692,500

$1,650,000

 

$1,822,000

 

2.6%

-7.1%

7.4%

-37.5%

San Mateo

$1,900,000

$1,860,500

 

$2,110,000

 

2.1%

-10.0%

-17.6%

-36.2%

Santa Clara

$1,625,000

$1,700,000

 

$1,625,000

 

-4.4%

0.0%

-16.7%

-39.5%

Solano

$565,000

$587,000

 

$580,000

 

-3.7%

-2.6%

-18.6%

-41.4%

Sonoma

$797,570

$810,000

 

$750,000

 

-1.5%

6.3%

-3.0%

-37.5%

Southern California

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Los Angeles

$854,280

$891,770

 

$848,970

 

-4.2%

0.6%

-6.1%

-39.8%

Orange

$1,165,000

$1,200,000

 

$1,120,000

 

-2.9%

4.0%

-17.6%

-38.5%

Riverside

$599,990

$600,000

 

$580,000

 

0.0%

3.4%

-19.2%

-41.5%

San Bernardino

$465,000

$480,000

 

$445,000

 

-3.1%

4.5%

-15.4%

-47.9%

San Diego

$860,000

$899,000

 

$850,000

 

-4.3%

1.2%

-15.6%

-40.7%

Ventura

$855,000

$850,000

 

$830,000

 

0.6%

3.0%

-1.5%

-33.5%

Central Coast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monterey

$865,000

$822,500

 

$865,250

 

5.2%

0.0%

-20.5%

-34.3%

San Luis Obispo

$815,000

$875,000

 

$800,000

 

-6.9%

1.9%

-24.2%

-39.2%

Santa Barbara

$1,115,000

$905,000

 

$837,000

 

23.2%

33.2%

-21.4%

-43.8%

Santa Cruz

$1,362,000

$1,217,500

 

$1,136,000

 

11.9%

19.9%

-23.1%

-35.9%

Central Valley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresno

$400,000

$415,000

 

$385,000

 

-3.6%

3.9%

-22.0%

-32.1%

Glenn

$310,000

$327,000

 

$307,000

 

-5.2%

1.0%

-38.9%

-15.4%

Kern

$379,980

$365,000

 

$340,000

 

4.1%

11.8%

-11.6%

-31.4%

Kings

$328,000

$342,500

 

$325,000

 

-4.2%

0.9%

-6.1%

-1.3%

Madera

$400,000

$410,000

 

$394,880

 

-2.4%

1.3%

-15.4%

-52.4%

Merced

$380,000

$377,000

 

$370,000

 

0.8%

2.7%

-5.5%

-35.8%

Placer

$645,000

$645,000

 

$649,000

 

0.0%

-0.6%

-8.5%

-27.1%

Sacramento

$512,500

$520,000

 

$510,000

 

-1.4%

0.5%

-19.2%

-43.9%

San Benito

$761,000

$750,000

 

$768,000

 

1.5%

-0.9%

-14.0%

-39.3%

San Joaquin

$497,890

$515,000

 

$500,000

 

-3.3%

-0.4%

-20.9%

-45.4%

Stanislaus

$430,000

$445,000

 

$440,000

 

-3.4%

-2.3%

10.0%

-24.5%

Tulare

$369,000

$335,000

 

$325,000

 

10.1%

13.5%

-20.4%

-33.4%

Far North

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butte

$438,750

$429,780

 

$460,000

 

2.1%

-4.6%

-8.3%

-14.7%

Lassen

$290,500

$269,000

 

$232,500

 

8.0%

24.9%

-34.8%

-46.4%

Plumas

$442,500

$475,000

 

$470,000

 

-6.8%

-5.9%

-2.9%

-8.1%

Shasta

$382,250

$375,000

 

$359,500

 

1.9%

6.3%

-9.6%

-23.8%

Siskiyou

$326,750

$352,450

 

$329,500

 

-7.3%

-0.8%

-9.5%

-5.0%

Tehama

$272,500

$302,000

 

$343,000

 

-9.8%

-20.6%

-9.7%

-3.4%

Other Calif. Counties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amador

$365,000

$400,000

 

$430,640

 

-8.8%

-15.2%

-11.8%

-10.0%

Calaveras

$414,500

$450,000

 

$432,000

 

-7.9%

-4.1%

-22.8%

-40.8%

Del Norte

$389,900

$418,750

 

$360,100

 

-6.9%

8.3%

18.8%

-32.1%

El Dorado

$684,000

$647,450

 

$615,000

 

5.6%

11.2%

-19.4%

-23.2%

Humboldt

$439,500

$460,000

 

$420,000

 

-4.5%

4.6%

13.0%

-16.8%

Lake

$353,000

$339,500

 

$345,000

 

4.0%

2.3%

12.5%

-23.2%

Mariposa

$399,000

$342,200

 

$455,000

 

16.6%

-12.3%

6.7%

0.0%

Mendocino

$530,000

$535,000

 

$534,000

 

-0.9%

-0.7%

-12.8%

-25.5%

Mono

$960,000

$1,105,000

 

$840,000

 

-13.1%

14.3%

-8.3%

-31.3%

Nevada

$532,500

$562,500

 

$525,000

 

-5.3%

1.4%

-30.1%

-24.0%

Sutter

$412,500

$437,850

 

$422,550

 

-5.8%

-2.4%

-25.9%

-52.4%

Tuolumne

$368,260

$399,500

 

$385,000

 

-7.8%

-4.3%

-17.0%

-21.2%

Yolo

$595,000

$635,000

 

$582,500

 

-6.3%

2.1%

-4.0%

-30.7%

Yuba

$405,000

$435,000

 

$413,000

 

-6.9%

-1.9%

17.5%

-24.5%

r = revised

 

October 2022 County Unsold Inventory and Days on Market
(Regional and condo sales data not seasonally adjusted)

October 2022

Unsold Inventory Index

Median Time on Market

State/Region/County

Oct.

2022

Sept.

2022

 

Oct.

2021

 

Oct.

2022

Sept.

2022

 

Oct.

2021

 

Calif. Single-family home

3.3

2.9

 

1.8

 

23.0

22.0

 

11.0

 

Calif. Condo/Townhome

2.8

2.6

 

1.6

 

21.0

21.0

 

11.0

 

Los Angeles Metro Area

3.7

3.1

 

1.9

 

24.0

23.0

 

11.0

 

Central Coast

3.0

2.5

 

1.8

 

20.0

19.0

 

10.0

 

Central Valley

3.2

2.9

 

1.8

 

21.0

20.0

 

9.0

 

Far North

4.2

4.1

 

3.2

 

35.0

38.0

 

20.0

 

Inland Empire

3.9

3.4

 

2.0

 

27.0

25.0

 

12.0

 

San Francisco Bay Area

2.4

2.3

 

1.4

 

20.0

21.0

 

12.0

 

Southern California

3.6

3.0

 

1.8

 

22.0

22.0

 

11.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Francisco Bay Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alameda

2.1

2.0

 

1.3

 

16.0

17.0

 

11.0

 

Contra Costa

2.5

2.3

 

1.4

 

23.0

21.0

 

10.0

 

Marin

2.3

2.6

 

1.3

 

22.0

22.0

 

21.0

 

Napa

5.4

4.0

 

2.8

 

35.0

30.0

 

34.0

 

San Francisco

2.8

3.2

 

1.6

 

13.5

17.0

 

13.0

 

San Mateo

2.3

2.1

 

1.5

 

13.0

17.5

 

9.0

 

Santa Clara

1.8

1.8

 

1.1

 

13.0

16.0

 

8.0

 

Solano

2.9

2.5

 

1.4

 

48.0

36.0

 

28.0

 

Sonoma

2.8

2.9

 

1.8

 

36.0

36.0

 

34.0

 

Southern California

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Los Angeles

4.1

3.2

 

2.0

 

20.0

21.0

 

10.0

 

Orange

2.8

2.5

 

1.5

 

25.0

21.0

 

9.0

 

Riverside

3.9

3.3

 

2.0

 

28.0

26.0

 

13.0

 

San Bernardino

4.0

3.6

 

2.1

 

27.0

24.0

 

12.0

 

San Diego

3.0

2.7

 

1.5

 

18.0

19.0

 

9.0

 

Ventura

2.4

2.7

 

1.8

 

33.5

31.0

 

24.0

 

Central Coast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monterey

3.2

2.8

 

2.2

 

25.0

17.0

 

11.5

 

San Luis Obispo

3.0

2.4

 

1.7

 

17.0

21.0

 

8.0

 

Santa Barbara

2.8

2.4

 

1.4

 

18.0

20.5

 

10.0

 

Santa Cruz

3.2

2.5

 

1.8

 

21.5

19.0

 

12.0

 

Central Valley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresno

3.4

2.8

 

1.9

 

18.0

17.0

 

7.0

 

Glenn

4.4

2.9

 

3.7

 

48.0

37.5

 

13.0

 

Kern

3.1

2.8

 

1.8

 

21.0

23.0

 

10.0

 

Kings

2.8

2.6

 

2.3

 

14.0

19.5

 

7.0

 

Madera

5.3

4.6

 

2.1

 

23.0

21.0

 

12.0

 

Merced

3.5

3.5

 

1.7

 

39.0

24.0

 

10.0

 

Placer

3.1

3.1

 

1.7

 

22.0

23.0

 

8.0

 

Sacramento

2.9

2.6

 

1.4

 

21.0

18.0

 

9.0

 

San Benito

3.8

3.4

 

2.1

 

35.0

34.0

 

8.0

 

San Joaquin

3.3

2.9

 

1.7

 

31.0

23.0

 

11.0

 

Stanislaus

2.5

3.1

 

1.9

 

22.0

21.0

 

9.0

 

Tulare

3.7

2.9

 

2.1

 

13.0

14.0

 

7.0

 

Far North

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butte

3.4

3.3

 

2.4

 

20.0

20.5

 

10.0

 

Lassen

8.1

5.3

 

4.2

 

63.0

90.0

 

98.0

 

Plumas

4.1

4.8

 

4.5

 

79.0

97.0

 

75.0

 

Shasta

3.9

3.7

 

2.7

 

27.5

31.0

 

14.0

 

Siskiyou

4.6

4.9

 

5.4

 

56.0

55.0

 

18.5

 

Tehama

6.7

6.3

 

5.0

 

70.0

52.0

 

41.0

 

Other Calif. Counties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amador

4.4

4.4

 

3.6

 

17.0

42.0

 

26.5

 

Calaveras

4.6

3.7

 

2.8

 

59.0

69.0

 

54.0

 

Del Norte

3.3

5.1

 

3.2

 

72.0

81.5

 

90.0

 

El Dorado

3.5

3.1

 

2.7

 

34.0

43.5

 

17.0

 

Humboldt

4.0

4.7

 

2.2

 

15.5

18.5

 

10.0

 

Lake

6.0

7.3

 

4.5

 

37.0

32.0

 

26.0

 

Mariposa

5.2

5.3

 

5.1

 

38.0

23.0

 

26.0

 

Mendocino

7.1

6.9

 

4.3

 

55.0

65.0

 

41.0

 

Mono

3.4

4.1

 

3.4

 

111.0

80.0

 

107.0

 

Nevada

4.0

3.2

 

2.9

 

39.0

46.0

 

11.0

 

Sutter

4.5

3.3

 

1.8

 

22.0

27.5

 

10.5

 

Tuolumne

3.9

3.3

 

3.1

 

71.5

63.0

 

15.0

 

Yolo

2.2

2.6

 

1.2

 

19.0

24.0

 

9.0

 

Yuba

3.6

4.6

 

1.9

 

27.0

31.0

 

10.5

 

r = revised

 Article belongs to CAR.org

November
15

CAC ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT PRODUCE VETERAN JEFF OBERMAN TO LEAD CAC

  • Oct 04, 2022

The California Avocado Commission Board of Directors has selected produce veteran Jeff Oberman to become the organization's new president, effective October 10, 2022. Mr. Oberman's produce industry career has spanned 25 years so far. From 2020 to the present he served as vice president of sales – business development for PRO*ACT and was their vice president strategic programs for the prior two years. From 1997 to 2018 Mr. Oberman worked for the produce trade association United Fresh in successively more responsible roles. For more than half his tenure at United Fresh he served as vice president, trade relations.

"We are very pleased that Jeff Oberman has accepted the position of California Avocado Commission president," said Rob Grethe...

Click Here to Read More...

November
15

Best California Mortgage and Refinance Rates for November 2022

If you're looking to relocate to the west coast, it's important to know that while mortgage rates in California are slightly below the national average, the higher property costs in certain areas need to be looked at closely before buying.

Third Party Services |
Advertiser Disclosure |
Editorial Policy Disclosure
 

Current California Mortgage and Refinance Rates

Compare today's average mortgage rates in the state of California, based on an aggregated pool of rates from multiple sources.

Product Rate Rate Last Week
30-Year Fixed Rate 6.900% 7.360%
15-Year Fixed Rate 6.260% 6.490%
5/1 ARM Rate 5.250% 5.190%
30-Year Jumbo Mortgage Rate 6.870% 7.330%
30-Year Fixed Refinance Rate 6.880% 7.340%

Rates data based on Sacramento, California as of 11/14/2022

Mortgage Rates Trends

In this graph:

On Monday, November 14, 2022, the APR was 6.910% for the 30-year fixed rate, 6.270% for the 15-year fixed rate, and 5.254% for the 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage rate. These rates are updated almost every day based on Bankrate's national survey of mortgage lenders. Toggle between the three rates on the graph and compare today's rates to what they looked like in the past 43 days.

Note: Not sure how much house you can afford? Use our mortgage calculator to find out.

While California is a beautiful state, many areas within the state are very expensive to buy a home or live in — which is especially true in the coastal areas. Plus, the cost of living in California is high, homeowner's insurance is high and the home prices in some areas are astronomical. With that said, the current mortgage and refinance rates in California are slightly below the national average. Considering that buying a home in California can amount to a massive expense, the low current interest rates will help you save money on your mortgage expenses — even if they can't make the price tag of the home more affordable. Compare national mortgage rates to see how they stack up against California rates.

Getting a mortgage in California

When it comes to buying a house in California, what you pay will depend heavily on where you buy. The costs of living and buying a home can vary wildly from one city to the next, much like it can in New York state. There are several factors you can weigh, though, to get a better picture of the overall costs of living in California.

Two of those factors are the median home price and median monthly ownership costs for homes in California, which are significantly higher than the national average across the board. The state also has the 11th highest average cost of homeowner's insurance, and when it comes to the cost of living, the state ranks as the 2nd most expensive, only after Hawaii.

All of these factors should be weighed together to get an accurate picture of the costs and benefits — as well as the potential downsides — of buying in California.

  • Median home price: $475,900
  • Average 30-year fixed rate: 3.07%
  • Median monthly ownership cost: $2,282
  • Homeownership rate: 54.6%

*Rates and data as of September 23, 2020. Assuming 3.210% APR national average on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

California state mortgage rate trends

Mortgage rates in California have followed roughly the same trend as the rest of the nation over the last two years. Rates were constant through mid-2018 and then spiked upward at the end of 2018 and the start of 2019. Following the spike, the rates began a slow descent, eventually landing at the lower rates, where they currently sit.

All fixed-rate loan products followed the same trend upward and then downward trend as the 30-year fixed-rate loans. In May 2018, interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate loans were at about 4.25%, and those rates are just above the 3% mark currently. Rates have been fairly constant over the last year, whereas many other states in the country have seen sustained drops.

California state current mortgage rates

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loan in California currently has an interest rate of about 3.06%. The interest rates for 20-year loans are slightly higher, averaging about 3.17%. Interest rates for both of these loan types have been holding steady recently, but the interest rates for 15-year fixed-rate loans have dropped dramatically over the past few months and now average about 2.74%.

The most significant recent rate drop was on adjustable-rate mortgages. The average interest rates for 7/1 or 5/1 ARM loans are about 3.56% and 3.05% respectively. Those rates were much higher just a few months ago. It's important to keep in mind, though, that all of these rates assume a 20% down payment and a credit score of 740 or higher. Your exact rate will vary by lender, the type and size of the loan, and your creditworthiness.

Most and least expensive places to live in California

Least expensive places to live in California

  1. Twentynine Palms, CA — Twentynine Palms, which is one of the training grounds for the U.S. Marines, is also one of the least expensive places to live in California, even if Uncle Sam isn't paying for it. The median value of a home in the area is only $132,200. The monthly costs of homeownership in Twentynine Palms is only $1,154 — which is over $400 below the national average.
  2. El Centro, CA — The median monthly cost of owning a home in El Centro is right on par with the national average, but it's well below the rest of California. The median cost of a home in El Centro is $182,300.
  3. Barstow, CA — Barstow, which is halfway between Los Angeles and Vegas, is a small California town with an affordable cost of living. The median value of a home in Barstow is only $107,100 and the median monthly cost of ownership is $1,116. The median gross rent in the city is $740 monthly.
  4. California City, CA — At 10% below the national average, the cost of living in California City is much lower than the rest of California. Housing costs in the city are 56% below the national average and the median rent is $475.98. Buying a home in California City is also affordable, with the median home price at $151,946.
  5. Calexico, CA — Living in Calexico is slightly more expensive than the other cities on this list, but is still well below the cost of living in the rest of the state. The median price of a home in Calexico is $196,500. The median rent in the area is still affordable at $906.

Most expensive places to live in California

  1. Los Altos, CA — The cost of living in Los Altos comes in 197% higher than the national average. Housing is an eye-popping 694% above the national average. The median home price in the city is $2,756,569 and the median rent is $8,635 monthly.
  2. Stanford, CA — Living in Stanford is extremely pricey for the average person, especially when it comes to housing. Housing in Stanford is 517% above the national average, which equates to a median home price of $2,140,883 and a median rent of $6,706.
  3. Palo Alto, CA — Palo Alto, which is home to many tech firms, is not a cheap place to live. The cost of groceries in Palo Alto is 48% higher than the national average. Expect to pay almost $5 for a loaf of bread. The median home price in the city is $438,753 and the median rent in the city is $1,374 monthly.
  4. Los Angeles, CA — The home of Hollywood and the film industry is also home to some of the most expensive living costs in California. Housing costs in LA are 127% above the national average and transportation costs are 31% higher. The median home price in the city is $788,384 and the median rent in the city is $2,470 per month.
  5. Atherton, CA — Housing, grocery and transportation costs in Atherton are all much higher than the national average. Housing is 55% higher than the national average, with a median home price of $537,872 and a median rent of $1,685.

*Data source: PayScale and Census.gov

California state mortgage resources and intricacies

Homebuyers looking to move west or purchase a home in the state of California have several resources they can consult during the process. For starters, check out the HUD website for the state or the California Housing Finance Agency (CHFA) website. If you have specific questions about the nuances of applying for a mortgage, refinancing or buying a home in California, a mortgage banker or realtor licensed to work in the state can be a great asset.

You'll also want to look at tax rates when deciding whether to buy in the state. While the exact rate you'll pay varies by the county and city you choose to buy in, the effective tax rate for the entire state was 0.74%.

The final word

If you're considering a purchase in the Golden State, you may have some incredibly beautiful home options to choose from. When you look at the overall picture, though, you may be paying a pretty penny for housing and other living costs in some of those areas. Still, with mortgage rates slightly below the national average, it may be a good opportunity to buy in California if you're thinking about heading out west.

Jason Lee

Personal Finance Contributor

Jason Lee is a seasoned copywriter with a passion for writing about banking, tech, personal growth, and personal finance. As a business owner, relationship strategist, and officer in the U.S. military, Jason enjoys sharing his unique knowledge base and skill set with the rest of the world.

ARTICLE BELONGS TO JASON LEE LENDING TREE VIP

⇦ Newer Posts • Older Posts ⇨

Login to My Homefinder