24% of CA households could buy a $815K home

Housing affordability in the third quarter improved slightly from the prior quarter as mortgage rates remained low while prices began to level off.

24% percent of California households could afford to purchase the $814,580 median-priced home in the third quarter of 2021, up from 23% in second-quarter 2021 but down from 28% in third-quarter 2020.

A minimum annual income of $148,400 was needed to qualify for the purchase of a median-priced home in the latest quarter in the state.

With interest rates expected to rise and the state median price projected to climb further in 2022, the housing affordability condition will likely get worse in the coming year.

Source: California Association of Realtors.