CA · #1 by population

Buying a home in California

In California, the median owner-occupied home is valued at $770,700 (Census ACS 2025); there is no state transfer tax (local ones may apply), and owners pay a median $5,124 a year in property tax (0.7% effective rate).

In short

California has no state transfer tax (counties and cities may charge one), does not require an attorney at closing and requires a seller disclosure form. It allows both court and out-of-court foreclosure and is a community property state.

Key figures for California

  • Median home value: $770,700, owner-occupied homes, Census ACS 2025; $951,800 in the city of Los Angeles. Compare
  • Price trend: The FHFA House Price Index shows California prices down 0.2% and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Glendale prices flat (+0.0%) between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026.
  • State transfer tax: none at state level; counties or cities may charge one. Compare
  • Median property tax paid: $5,124 a year, 0.7% of the median value (U.S.: 0.94%), Census ACS 2020-2024. By county
  • Cities covered by Payotte: 104 in California.

Calculate for California

If you buy

California state transfer tax

California has no state transfer tax; counties and cities may charge one.

Price$770,700
State transfer taxnot computed
Who paysSet by the purchase contract

Default price: the California median value of owner-occupied homes, $770,700 (Census ACS 2025). Not computed: No state tax. The tax is set by county and city, so it cannot be computed from the state alone. Who pays: Neither the state statute nor the City of Los Angeles FAQ assigns the tax; the purchase contract and escrow instructions decide. Not included: county and city transfer taxes, recording fees, title insurance and lender charges. California transfer tax guide · all 50 states.

If you sell

Capital gain and the federal tax on it

Same federal rule in every state: Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code excludes up to $250,000 of gain on a main home ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly).

Capital gain$350,000
Section 121 exclusion$250,000 (limit $250,000)
Taxable gain$100,000
Type of gainLong-term (owned over 1 year), 15% chosen
Federal tax on the gain$15,000

Section 121 excludes $250,000; the rest is taxable.

Gain = sale price minus your adjusted basis (purchase price, buying costs and improvements); selling expenses reduce it (IRS Publication 523). Long-term rates for sales in 2026, by taxable income including the gain (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, section 4.03): 0% up to $49,450 single or $98,900 married filing jointly, 15% up to $545,500 single or $613,700 jointly, 20% above. Not included: California state income tax on the gain (not computed), the net investment income tax, depreciation recapture on a rental or home office, and the reduced exclusion for an early sale. Agent commissions are negotiated and never set by law. Capital gains on a home sale.

Cities in California

  • Los Angeles main city of California on Payotte, 2nd largest U.S. metro area
  • Riverside 12th largest U.S. metro area
  • San Francisco 13th largest U.S. metro area
  • San Diego 18th largest U.S. metro area
  • Sacramento 27th largest U.S. metro area
  • San Jose 36th largest U.S. metro area
  • Fresno 48th largest U.S. metro area
  • Bakersfield 63rd largest U.S. metro area
  • Oxnard 75th largest U.S. metro area
  • Stockton 77th largest U.S. metro area
  • Long Beach 450,901 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Oakland 443,554 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • Anaheim 344,561 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Irvine 318,683 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Santa Ana 316,184 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Chula Vista 278,546 residents, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area (18th largest)
  • Santa Clarita 229,159 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Fremont 228,192 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • San Bernardino 224,775 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Modesto 220,592 residents, Modesto, CA metro area (105th largest)
  • Fontana 218,455 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Moreno Valley 213,919 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Huntington Beach 193,151 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Glendale 187,823 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Ontario 185,285 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Elk Grove 182,797 residents, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area (27th largest)
  • Santa Rosa 177,524 residents, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area (112th largest)
  • Rancho Cucamonga 176,675 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Garden Grove 172,361 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Oceanside 170,941 residents, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area (18th largest)
  • Lancaster 167,426 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Roseville 163,304 residents, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area (27th largest)
  • Palmdale 162,536 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Corona 161,540 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Salinas 160,783 residents, Salinas, CA metro area (125th largest)
  • Hayward 158,440 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • Sunnyvale 156,792 residents, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area (36th largest)
  • Escondido 148,847 residents, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area (18th largest)
  • Pomona 147,966 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Visalia 146,271 residents, Visalia, CA metro area (113th largest)
  • Victorville 140,721 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Fullerton 140,054 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Torrance 139,576 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Orange 137,941 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Pasadena 137,195 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Santa Clara 133,132 residents, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area (36th largest)
  • Clovis 127,993 residents, Fresno, CA metro area (48th largest)
  • Simi Valley 125,778 residents, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro area (75th largest)
  • Thousand Oaks 124,229 residents, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro area (75th largest)
  • Concord 124,016 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • Vallejo 123,475 residents, Vallejo, CA metro area (120th largest)
  • Fairfield 122,646 residents, Vallejo, CA metro area (120th largest)
  • Berkeley 121,749 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • Antioch 118,453 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • Menifee 117,041 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Richmond 115,353 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • Carlsbad 113,575 residents, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area (18th largest)
  • Murrieta 112,539 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Temecula 112,431 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • East Los Angeles 111,647 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Santa Maria 111,346 residents, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area (122nd largest)
  • Ventura 109,831 residents, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro area (75th largest)
  • Downey 109,368 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Costa Mesa 109,131 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Jurupa Valley 108,154 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • West Covina 106,920 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Rialto 104,918 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • El Monte 104,639 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Vacaville 103,994 residents, Vallejo, CA metro area (120th largest)
  • Burbank 103,533 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • El Cajon 103,291 residents, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area (18th largest)
  • San Mateo 103,006 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • Chico 102,911 residents, Chico, CA metro area (224th largest)
  • Inglewood 102,774 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Hesperia 101,836 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Daly City 101,418 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • Tracy 100,136 residents, Stockton-Lodi, CA metro area (77th largest)
  • Vista 99,322 residents, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area (18th largest)
  • Norwalk 98,230 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • San Marcos 96,620 residents, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area (18th largest)
  • Merced 96,073 residents, Merced, CA metro area (173rd largest)
  • Arden-Arcade 94,994 residents, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area (27th largest)
  • Manteca 94,292 residents, Stockton-Lodi, CA metro area (77th largest)
  • Indio 94,275 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Chino 94,010 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Redding 93,502 residents, Redding, CA metro area (250th largest)
  • Hemet 92,912 residents, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (12th largest)
  • Mission Viejo 91,601 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Carson 91,358 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Compton 91,129 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • South Gate 90,805 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Santa Monica 90,729 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Westminster 89,537 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Folsom 88,091 residents, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area (27th largest)
  • Mountain View 87,316 residents, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area (36th largest)
  • Santa Barbara 87,291 residents, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area (122nd largest)
  • Lake Forest 87,159 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Citrus Heights 86,909 residents, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area (27th largest)
  • San Leandro 86,571 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • San Ramon 85,924 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • Whittier 85,589 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)
  • Livermore 84,867 residents, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (13th largest)
  • Rancho Cordova 84,113 residents, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area (27th largest)
  • Hawthorne 83,633 residents, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (2nd largest)

Sectors of Los Angeles

How Los Angeles is divided: Area Planning Commissions (7).

Buying in California: frequently asked questions

What is the median home value in California?

The median value of owner-occupied homes in California is $770,700 (Census ACS 2025), and $951,800 in the city of Los Angeles. These are owner estimates, not sale prices. The FHFA House Price Index shows California prices down 0.2% and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Glendale prices flat (+0.0%) between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026.

Median home value in all 50 states

Is there a real estate transfer tax in California?

California has no state transfer tax. Counties may charge $0.55 per $500 of value under the Documentary Transfer Tax Act, and cities such as Los Angeles add their own, with Measure ULA adding 4% or 5.5% on very high-priced sales.

Full California guide · Compare all 50 states

What closing costs does California law set?

California has no official typical closing-cost total. Transfer taxes are set by county and city, for example $1.10 per $1,000 in Los Angeles County plus $4.50 per $1,000 in the City of Los Angeles, or $5,600 on a $1,000,000 home.

Full California guide · Compare all 50 states

How is property tax calculated in California?

California limits the general property tax to 1% of assessed value under Proposition 13, and assessed value can rise at most 2% a year until a change of ownership or new construction. In Los Angeles tax rate area 00004 the 2026-27 total is 1.185825%.

Full California guide · Compare all 50 states

How much property tax do homeowners pay in California?

Owner-occupants in California pay a median $5,124 a year in property tax on a median home value of $734,700, an effective rate of 0.7% (U.S.: $3,119, 0.94%), per Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates.

Property tax by county in California

What is the deadline to appeal a property tax assessment in California?

In Los Angeles County, California, the regular 2026 assessment appeal period runs from July 2 to November 30, 2026, filed with the Assessment Appeals Board (non-refundable $46 fee, hardship waiver available), and a supplemental assessment must be appealed within 60 days of the mailing date on the notice or bill.

Full California guide · Compare all 50 states

Do you need a real estate attorney to close in California?

No. California home sales close through escrow, and the Escrow Law lets licensed escrow companies, title insurers, banks, brokers and attorneys hold escrows, so no attorney is required. A written fee contract is required if a lawyer is hired and fees will exceed $1,000 (Bus. & Prof. Code 6148).

Full California guide · Compare all 50 states

What must a home seller disclose in California?

A California seller must deliver a Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement (Civil Code 1102.6) and a Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement (1103.2). If either arrives after the offer, the buyer may cancel within 3 days of in-person delivery or 5 days if mailed or sent electronically.

Full California guide · Compare all 50 states

How does foreclosure work in California?

Most California foreclosures are non-judicial trustee's sales: at least three months must pass after the notice of default, then a notice of sale at least 20 days before the auction. Counting the federal 120-day wait, the legal minimum is about seven and a half months.

Full California guide · Compare all 50 states

What first-time home buyer programs does California offer?

In California, the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) lends first-time buyers up to 3.5% of the price with an FHA loan or 3% with a conventional loan through MyHome. Its Dream For All loan (up to 20%, capped at $150,000) closed to new applications on March 16, 2026.

Full California guide · Compare all 50 states

Is California a community property state?

California is a community property state: a home a married person acquires during marriage while living in California is presumed community property (Family Code 760), and both spouses must sign to sell or encumber it (Family Code 1102).

Full California guide · Compare all 50 states

Which natural hazards affect home insurance in California?

A standard California homeowners policy does not cover earthquake damage. Insurers must offer earthquake coverage (Insurance Code 10081), and the FAIR Plan sells limited fire coverage up to $3 million for residential policyholders.

Full California guide

How much tax when you sell a home in California?

The federal rule is the same in California as in every state: if you owned and lived in the home as your main home for at least 2 of the last 5 years, the first $250,000 of gain is excluded, $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly (Section 121, IRS Publication 523). Bought $400,000, sold $750,000: a single owner has $100,000 of taxable gain, $15,000 of federal tax at the 15% long-term rate; a couple filing jointly owes nothing. California income tax on the gain is not computed here.

Capital gains on a home sale

California guides

Professionals in California

Sources

Data as of . Figures are computed from these sources.

All states · Federal guides