Calculate Your Future

With California's median home price at approximately $885,000 (as of late 2025), the average monthly payment (including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) is approximately $5,900-$6,500 for a 20% down conventional loan at current rates (6.0-6.5%). County property tax rates vary from 0.6% in Modoc to 1.18% in San Francisco, significantly impacting your payment. Use our mortgage calculator to see exact payments for your target county and down payment amount.

General rule: Your maximum home price is typically 3-4x your gross annual income, but debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is what lenders actually use. If you earn $150,000/year with minimal debt, you can afford approximately $600,000-$700,000 with 20% down. Standard DTI limits are 43%, but FHA loans can stretch to 56.9% with compensating factors (like strong reserves or residual income), potentially increasing buying power by 15-20%. Calculate your exact purchasing power based on your income, debts, and loan program.

California mortgage payments include four components (PITI): Principal (loan repayment), Interest (lender's charge), Taxes (property tax, typically 1.0-1.2% annually after adding local bonds and fees to Prop 13's 1% base rate), and Insurance (homeowner's insurance $100-$300/month, plus PMI if under 20% down). Many lenders also include HOA fees in your monthly payment. Our calculator breaks down each component with county-specific tax rates for all 58 California counties.

Buy if you're staying 5-7+ years; rent if moving sooner. In California's appreciation-heavy markets (historically 4-7% annually), buying typically outperforms renting when you own long enough for equity gains and tax benefits to offset transaction costs. With median rents of $2,424-$2,800/month and median home prices at approximately $885,000, the break-even point averages 5-7 years. Run your specific scenario to see your personalized break-even timeline and wealth comparison.

California down payment requirements: 0% down with VA loans (eligible veterans/active duty), 3% down with conventional loans (requires PMI), 3.5% down with FHA loans, and 10-20% down for jumbo loans over $806,500 (2025 conforming loan limit). California also offers CalHFA down payment assistance programs including MyHome Assistance (3-3.5% of purchase price) and Dream For All (up to $150,000) for first-time buyers. Schedule a consultation to explore assistance programs you qualify for.

California property taxes vary significantly between counties—from approximately 0.6% annually in rural counties like Modoc to 1.18% in San Francisco (FY 2025-26). On an $800,000 home, this means approximately $400/month in low-tax counties versus $785/month in San Francisco—a substantial monthly difference. Proposition 13 caps annual increases at 2%, protecting you from dramatic tax hikes. Our calculator uses real county tax rates to show your exact payment, and our affordability engine factors these into your maximum purchase price.

Our calculators use real-time California county data (actual property tax rates, median home prices, HOA averages) and standard mortgage formulas used by lenders, making them highly accurate for estimates. However, final payments depend on your specific credit score (affects interest rate), exact property taxes/insurance, and lender fees. These calculators give you 95%+ accuracy for planning—use them to understand affordability and costs, then talk to a loan officer for exact pre-approval numbers and current rates.