California · CA

California Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled for California: median home price $765,000, average property tax rate 0.71%. Adjust any slider to make it yours.

Highest top marginal income tax rate in the country.

California housing at a glance

Median home price: $765,000
Effective property tax rate: 0.71% / yr
Annual property tax (median home): $5,432
Est. monthly tax escrow: $453
State income tax: Yes

Sources: regional housing data 2025 (median price), state assessor averages 2024–2025 (tax rate).

Buying a home in California

The median home price in California is around $765,000 and the effective property tax rate averages 0.71%of assessed value per year. Most lenders look for a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio under 43%, meaning your total monthly debt payments (including this mortgage) shouldn't exceed 43% of your gross income.

A 20% down payment on the median home in California is $153,000. Putting down at least 20% eliminates private mortgage insurance (PMI), which typically adds 0.3–1.5% of the loan amount per year to your monthly payment.

Top counties in California

Home prices vary significantly by county. The most populated counties in California tend to command the highest medians:

Los Angeles County: $850,000
Orange County: $1,100,000
San Diego County: $875,000

Adjust the home-price slider above to match the county you're buying in.

Transfer tax & closing costs in California

California charges a documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of price at the state level. Many cities (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland) add steep local transfer taxes on top.

Beyond transfer taxes, total closing costs in Californiatypically range from 2–5% of the purchase price — including lender origination fees, title insurance, appraisal, and prepaid interest. On the median home that's roughly $15,300–$38,250.

Foreclosure & legal context

Foreclosure type: Non-judicial (trustee sale)
Security instrument: Deed of Trust
Deficiency liability: Non-recourse (purchase-money)

California is a non-recourse state for purchase-money loans on owner-occupied 1–4 unit homes (CCP § 580b). Property taxes are also constrained by Proposition 13 — assessed value resets only on sale.

California mortgage FAQ

What is the monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced home in California?: At the current 30-year fixed rate of ~6.81%, a $765,000 home in California with 20% down ($153,000) carries a principal-and-interest payment of ~$3,994/mo. Add property tax (~$453/mo at 0.71%) and homeowners insurance and your total is roughly $4,446/mo. Use the calculator above to adjust for your exact down payment and rate.
What is the property tax rate in California?: The effective statewide property tax rate in California averages 0.71% of assessed value per year. On a $765,000 home, that works out to roughly $5,432 per year ($453/mo). Individual county rates vary.
Does California have a state income tax?: Yes, California has a state income tax. This affects your net take-home pay and therefore your effective purchasing power — use our salary calculator to estimate what's left after tax.
What are the closing costs and transfer taxes in California?: California charges a documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of price at the state level. Many cities (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland) add steep local transfer taxes on top.
What type of foreclosure does California use?: California uses non-judicial (trustee sale) foreclosure, which typically moves faster than court-supervised processes. California is a non-recourse state for purchase-money loans on owner-occupied 1–4 unit homes (CCP § 580b). Property taxes are also constrained by Proposition 13 — assessed value resets only on sale.

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