California home prices ‘hit a new record’ high. What can buyers expect to pay?
California has long been known for its high cost of living — and home prices across the state just “set a record high,” according to real estate experts.
The statewide median home price “hit a new record” of $914,810 in April, according to a Tuesday, May 19, housing report from the California Association of Realtors.
The increase comes as the spring homebuying season continues to boost activity in the housing market.
Existing home sales climbed to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 275,580 in April.
That’s a 3.9% increase from March and up 4.1% compared to April 2025, according to the group’s April Home Sales and Price Report.
Although spring typically brings more buyers into the market, California Association of Realtors president Tamara Suminski said, global tensions tied to the war in Iran are creating uncertainty for buyers and sellers.
“While elevated mortgage rates and ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East continue to weigh on the market, California buyers and sellers are still finding opportunities, and that speaks to the underlying strength of housing demand,” Suminski said.
Here’s how much buyers can expect to pay for a home in California — and where prices remain below the statewide average:
How much can I expect to pay for a home in California?
According to the California Association of Realtors, the statewide median home price hit $914,810 in April.
It rose approximately 3% from $889,190 in March.
“The increase in the median price was driven in large part by the composition of sales, with a greater share of activity occurring in higher-priced segments of the market,” said Jordan Levine, California Association of Realtors senior vice president and chief economist.
As California home prices set a new record high, Levine said, “housing affordability remains a significant challenge” across the state due to “tight supply and continued competition in many markets.”
Are California mortgage rates rising or dropping?
The California Association of Realtors previously predicted that mortgage rates to stay below 6% in 2026.
However, recent global events have changed that outlook.
As of Wednesday, May 20, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate in California was about 6.63%, according to Zillow.
That is an increase from 6.13% in April.
Where can I find lowest home prices in California?
Though the statewide median home price hit a new record high of $914,810, homebuyers can still find prices as low as $285,000 in California, according to the latest report from the California Association of Realtors.
The most affordable homes in the state can primarily be found throughout Northern California and the Central Valley.
Based on Tuesday’s home sales report, these 10 counties had median home prices below the statewide average of $914,810:
- Lassen County — $285,000
- Siskiyou County — $315,000
- Glenn County — $325,000
- Trinity County — $325,000
- Del Norte County — $335,000
- Lake County — $340,000
- Kings County — $380,000
- Shasta County — $385,000
- Tulare County — $386,000
- Tehama County — $387,000
Which California county has the most expensive home prices?
As of Tuesday, the priciest homes in California could be foundin Mono County, according to the California Association of Realtors.
The Bay Area also boasted some of the highest housing costs in the state.
Although the median price for a single-family home in the Bay Area was $1.4 million in April, prices for homes across the region reached as high as $2.3 million.
The five counties with the highest median prices for existing single-family homes were:
- Mono County — $2,550,000
- San Mateo County — $2,300,000
- San Francisco County — $2,127,500
- Santa Clara County — $2,100,000
- Marin County — $1,810,000
How much do homes cost in my California county?
Find the full list of home prices by county on the California Association of Realtors website.
This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "California home prices ‘hit a new record’ high. What can buyers expect to pay?."
