State
California
Buying conditions are challenging in the current environment. Home prices remain significantly above historical averages. Monthly mortgage payments represent a notably manageable share of income.
Score breakdown
7.24%
Above the ~6.6% long-term average
337
28.4% above 10-year average (262)
$87,460
Monthly mortgage ≈ $2,196, or 30.1% of monthly income
5.10%
Above the 5-year average of 5.0% for California
What this score means for buyers in California
The HomeBuyScore of 44/100 for California is a composite of four Federal Reserve data series, each weighted equally at 25%.
A 30-year fixed mortgage currently costs 7.24%, which translates to a monthly payment of roughly $2,196 on a median-priced home (assuming 20% down). That represents approximately 30.1% of the median household income of $87,460 — financial planners generally recommend keeping this ratio under 28%.
The national Case-Shiller Home Price Index currently stands at 337, which is 28.4% above its 10-year average, suggesting prices are still elevated relative to recent history.
Local economic conditions in California show an unemployment rate of 5.10%. This is moderate but worth monitoring as a risk factor.