California housing market data: median home price, year-over-year appreciation, inventory, months of supply, days on market, affordability, and what it means
California is currently a warm market. The median sale price sits near $812,000, up 2.8% from a year ago, with roughly 15,299 active listings and 2.4 months of supply. Homes are going under contract in about 43 days on average.
California's median sale price of $812,000 is 93.7% above the $419,300 national median, which places it 2 of 51 states by price level. Year-over-year appreciation of 2.8% ranks 30 of 51, so California is currently a middle-of-the-pack state relative to the rest of the country.
Inside the West region, the median state price is $631,000, so California runs 28.7% richer than its regional peers — the closest comparisons are Hawaii at $842,000, Washington at $631,000, Oregon at $512,000, Alaska at $372,000. That gap matters for loan sizing: at the same rate, a California file carries roughly $181,000 more balance than the regional median, which changes qualifying income and the value of a rate-and-term option.
California statewide numbers hide real spread across its metros. This report tracks 7 California metros: Los Angeles, CA ($962,000, +3.1% YoY); Orange County, CA ($1,285,000, +3.6% YoY); San Diego, CA ($985,000, +2.4% YoY); San Francisco, CA ($1,310,000, +1.8% YoY); Sacramento, CA ($612,000, +1.6% YoY); Riverside–San Bernardino, CA ($592,000, +2.2% YoY); San Jose, CA ($1,620,000, +4.2% YoY). Price a file off the metro your borrower is actually buying in, not the state average.
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California is currently a warm market. The median sale price sits near $812,000, up 2.8% from a year ago, with roughly 15,299 active listings and 2.4 months of supply. Homes are going under contract in about 43 days on average.
Affordability remains the binding constraint. At the current national average 30-year fixed rate near 6.42%, the typical payment on a median-priced home in California runs about $5,315 per month including taxes and insurance, against a median rent near $4,493. That gap is what determines whether purchase conversations in this market start with payment, with price, or with a buydown structure.
Supply is still tight relative to demand, which keeps competitive offers in play on well-priced inventory. Builder incentives are limited, and permits are running near 28,793 annualized units.
For originators, the practical read is this: pre-approval speed and appraisal-gap strategy still win deals here, and Realtor partnerships should emphasize how fast you can turn a fully underwritten approval.
California currently reads as a warm market with 2.4 months of supply. Balanced is generally considered four to six months, so this market still favors sellers.
The median sale price is approximately $812,000 as of 7/24/2026, up 2.8% from a year earlier.
No. Median prices are up about 2.8% year over year, though the pace of appreciation has slowed considerably from the 2021 peak.
The typical down payment on a closed transaction is near $102,864, and the resulting payment at the current national average 30-year fixed rate is roughly $5,315 per month including taxes and insurance. Low-down-payment FHA, VA, and conventional 3% options can materially reduce the cash required.
Our directional 12-month range is +1.2% to +4.6% on median price. Confidence is moderate; the rate path is the dominant variable.
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