Buying in California: what the numbers look like
California sits mid-pack for property taxes — 0.68% average effective rate (34th of 50, national average ≈ 0.94%), which works out to about $5,372 a year on the typical $790,000 home. On the insurance side, California homeowners average about $1,800 a year — a bargain at 33% below the 50-state average. Wildfire-zone homes face sharply higher premiums or state FAIR Plan coverage.
Put together at an illustrative 6.5% rate (30-year, 20% down), the typical California purchase pencils out near $4,592/month: $3,995 principal & interest + $448 tax + $150 insurance. That's the number the calculator above starts from — swap in your real price, rate quote, and county figures to make it yours.
Property taxes & closing costs in California
Prop 13 caps the base tax at 1% of purchase price with assessed-value growth limited to 2%/year — long-time owners often pay far below the market-value rate.
Transfer tax: Documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 (0.11%); some cities add much more. Closing costs also include lender, title, and recording fees — typically 2–5% of the price all-in.
California at a glance
| Typical home value (Zillow, 2025) | $790,000 (2nd highest) |
| Avg. effective property tax (2023) | 0.68% ≈ $448/mo |
| Avg. home insurance (2025) | $1,800/yr ≈ $150/mo |
| Example payment (typical home, 6.5%, 20% down) | $4,592/mo |
Frequently asked questions
How much is the mortgage payment on a typical California home?
The typical California home runs about $790,000 (Zillow, 2025). With 20% down ($158,000) on a 30-year loan at an illustrative 6.5% rate, the full monthly payment is roughly $4,592 — $3,995 principal & interest, $448 property tax, and $150 insurance. Adjust every input above to match your own price and quote.
What is the property tax rate in California?
California's average effective rate is 0.68% of home value — the 34th lowest — that is, 17th lowest in the nation (Tax Foundation, 2023 data). On the typical $790,000 home that is about $5,372 per year. Prop 13 caps the base tax at 1% of purchase price with assessed-value growth limited to 2%/year — long-time owners often pay far below the market-value rate.
How much is homeowners insurance in California?
Roughly $1,800 per year on average for $300k of dwelling coverage (Bankrate, 2025) — below the 50-state average of $2,682. Wildfire-zone homes face sharply higher premiums or state FAIR Plan coverage.
Nearby states & more tools
Compare: Oregon mortgage calculator · Nevada mortgage calculator · Arizona mortgage calculator · Hawaii mortgage calculator — or see all 50 states compared.
Not sure of your price range? Start with the home affordability calculator, then fine-tune here. The full mortgage calculator has extra payments and PMI controls too.
Data & sources: Property tax — Effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing, calendar year 2023 (Tax Foundation analysis of Census ACS data, published 2025). Home value — Typical home value, Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), 2025, rounded to the nearest $5,000. Insurance — Average annual homeowners insurance premium for $300k dwelling coverage (Bankrate/Quadrant 2025), rounded to the nearest $50. State-level figures are planning defaults, not quotes: property taxes vary by county and city, insurance varies by home and insurer, and home values move monthly. Every value prefills the calculator but remains editable. The 6.5% rate is illustrative, not an offer or a prediction — always enter a real quote.
Disclaimer: Educational purposes only — not financial advice. See our Terms of Use.