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It’s widely known that California has some of the highest home prices of any state in the nation. Because of this, the average down payment in California is also much higher when compared to other states.
A report showed that the median down payment in the San Francisco metro reached $400,310, while San Jose came in at $360,000 and Anaheim at $270,800, based on January 2026 Redfin-cited data.
| Some good news: Sammamish Mortgage now serves borrowers all across the state of California. We offer a broad range of home loan options, along with competitive interest rates and flexible qualification criteria. Please contact us if you would like to receive a quote. |
Housing data company ATTOM Data Solutions recently published a report showing the median down payment amounts. Specifically, their report ranked housing markets by median down payment percentage of the median home price.
Nationwide, the median down payment was $62,000 in January 2026.
Despite these trends, California housing markets still have fairly substantial down payments for the typical home buyer. The state is home to several of the priciest housing markets, when measured by the median or average down payment size among borrowers.
If you’re asking yourself the question, “What’s the average down payment on a house in California?” you may want to look at individual areas throughout the state.
Here are some of the U.S. housing markets with the highest median down payment percentages, based on ATTOM Data Solutions analysis for Q1 2024:
By dollar amount in January 2026, Redfin data cited San Francisco at $400,310, San Jose at $360,000, and Anaheim at $270,800.
The San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metro area has the highest typical down payment size within the state of California.
The current median listing price within the area is around $985,000, while Zillow puts the average home value at $1,125,279. So it’s easy to see why the San Francisco area has one of the highest down payments in the country.
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and San Diego-Carlsbad also rank among the California housing markets with the largest down payments.
The current Bay Area median was $1,285,000 in February 2026, while the Los Angeles metro had a median price point of $838,060.
Do you want to buy a home, but can’t afford the average down payment on a house in California? You still have options!
Statistics like those shown above are often skewed by home buyers who make larger down payments, sometimes up to 20%. Some borrowers choose to invest 20% when buying a home because it allows them to avoid paying mortgage insurance.
But it’s possible to buy a home in California with a much smaller down payment—possibly as low as 3%. There are other things you can do, as well, to facilitate your purchase.
Here are 5 ways to reduce the down payment hurdle:
Conventional loans (that aren’t backed by the government) require a minimum down payment of 3%, while FHA loans require 3.5%. VA loans and USDA loans don’t require a down payment at all, though they are limited to a specific audience.
In an expensive real estate market like California, it’s much easier to come up with the minimum down payment for a particular loan program, rather than aiming for the 20% threshold mentioned above. So be sure to explore all of your financing options.
Many of the mortgage loan programs available to California home buyers allow for the use of gift money. This is when a third party like a family member contributes funds toward your down payment or closing costs.
Many home buyers rely on down payment gift money, because it helps to offset some of the upfront costs associated with a home purchase.
Depending on your situation, you may be able to qualify for a down payment assistance program. In California, the MyHome Assistance Program is available from the California Housing Finance Agency.
This program provides eligible homebuyers in California with a deferred-payment junior loan of up to 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value for FHA loans, and up to 3% for Conventional loans.
This program must be used in conjunction with the California Housing Finance Agency 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage.
No matter what the current average down payment for a house in California may be, this down payment assistance program can help you top up your down payment on a home purchase.
To qualify for this program, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Your down payment requirements can be significantly reduced by simply purchasing a home in a more affordable area.
For instance, the median sale price in San Diego is currently $950,000, while in nearby Chula Vista, the median sale price is $803,335. That’s a difference of about $146,665.
Based on these prices, a 10% down payment on a home in San Diego would be around $95,000, while a 10% down payment on a home in Chula Vista would be about $80,333. That’s $14,667 less that you would have to come up with.
Southern California is certainly home to high housing prices. But the same is true in Northern California and everything in between.
As such, the average down payment on a house in southern California or other parts of the Golden State will be high. However, looking for a home just outside of more expensive centers can reduce your down payment amount and the overall mortgage you need to secure.
Are you planning to buy a house in California in the near future? If so, you’ll benefit from starting a home-buying fund. The sooner you start saving the better.
The down payment is only one of the upfront costs you could incur when buying a home. You’ll probably have to pay for closing costs as well, along with moving-related expenses.
The best way to save is by automating it. So see if your bank offers some kind of auto-transfer or auto-deposit program. Most of them do.
In 2026, the average down payment on house in California remains among the highest of all states. California’s statewide median home sale price was $889,190 in March 2026, while the San Francisco metro posted a median down payment of $400,310 in January 2026. This in turn makes it harder to buy a home in the Golden State. But by exploring your options and saving early, you could achieve your dream of homeownership sooner rather than later.
Do you need mortgage financing in California? We can help. Sammamish Mortgage has been helping borrowers across the Pacific Northwest since 1992, including Washington State, Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon. We offer many different mortgage programs with flexible qualification requirements to suit the needs of each borrower, including our Diamond Homebuyer Program, Cash Buyer Program, and Bridge Loans. Contact us today if you have questions about applying for a mortgage, or visit our website to get an instant rate quote. Please reach out to us if you are ready to get pre-approved for a mortgage.
California down payments are often much higher than the national median because home prices are higher across much of the state. The amount varies by market, loan type, and borrower finances.
Down payments tend to be high in California because home values are high in many cities and metro areas. Even a modest percentage down payment can add up to a large dollar amount when purchase prices are elevated.
The article highlights San Francisco, San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and San Diego as California markets with especially large down payments compared with many other parts of the country.
No. Many buyers purchase homes with less than 20% down. A 20% down payment can help avoid mortgage insurance on some loans, but it is not required for many mortgage programs.
Some conventional loans allow a minimum down payment of 3% for qualified borrowers.
FHA loans typically require a minimum down payment of 3.5% for borrowers who meet program guidelines.
Yes. VA and USDA loans can offer zero-down payment options for eligible borrowers, though each program has specific qualification requirements.
Yes. Many mortgage programs allow eligible buyers to use gift funds from a family member or another approved source toward the down payment or closing costs.
Yes. California offers down payment assistance options, including programs through the California Housing Finance Agency for eligible buyers who meet income, occupancy, and program requirements.
Common strategies include choosing a low-down-payment loan, using gift funds, applying for down payment assistance, shopping in more affordable cities, and starting to save as early as possible.
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
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