Calculate your monthly mortgage payment in California including principal, interest, and California's average property tax rate of 0.76%.
California Property Tax Note: California property taxes are governed by Proposition 13, which caps the assessed value increase at 2% per year. The average effective property tax rate is 0.76% — well below the national average — but high home prices mean dollar amounts are significant. California is a community property state, which can affect mortgage qualifications for married couples.
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California average: 0.76%
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California Monthly Payment
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Median California home ($785,000) — 20% down — 7% rate — 30yr
Component
Monthly
Annual
Principal & Interest
$4,178.10
$50,137
Property Tax (0.76%)
$497.17
$5,966
Homeowners Insurance
$150.00
$1,800
Total PITI
$4,825.27
$57,903
Total interest over 30yr: $876,116. PMI not included.
Monthly property tax on a $400,000 home by state
State
Avg Rate
Monthly/$400k
Alabama
0.41%
$136.67
Alaska
1.04%
$346.67
Arizona
0.62%
$206.67
Arkansas
0.62%
$206.67
California ★
0.76%
$253.33
Colorado
0.51%
$170.00
Connecticut
1.79%
$596.67
Delaware
0.57%
$190.00
Florida
0.89%
$296.67
Georgia
0.92%
$306.67
Hawaii
0.29%
$96.67
Idaho
0.69%
$230.00
Illinois
2.23%
$743.33
Indiana
0.85%
$283.33
Iowa
1.57%
$523.33
Kansas
1.41%
$470.00
Kentucky
0.86%
$286.67
Louisiana
0.55%
$183.33
Maine
1.09%
$363.33
Maryland
1.09%
$363.33
Massachusetts
1.14%
$380.00
Michigan
1.54%
$513.33
Minnesota
1.12%
$373.33
Mississippi
0.81%
$270.00
Missouri
1.01%
$336.67
Montana
0.84%
$280.00
Nebraska
1.73%
$576.67
Nevada
0.55%
$183.33
New Hampshire
1.93%
$643.33
New Jersey
2.23%
$743.33
New Mexico
0.80%
$266.67
New York
1.72%
$573.33
North Carolina
0.80%
$266.67
North Dakota
0.98%
$326.67
Ohio
1.53%
$510.00
Oklahoma
0.88%
$293.33
Oregon
0.87%
$290.00
Pennsylvania
1.49%
$496.67
Rhode Island
1.53%
$510.00
South Carolina
0.57%
$190.00
South Dakota
1.22%
$406.67
Tennessee
0.67%
$223.33
Texas
1.60%
$533.33
Utah
0.52%
$173.33
Vermont
1.83%
$610.00
Virginia
0.87%
$290.00
Washington
0.98%
$326.67
Washington DC
0.55%
$183.33
West Virginia
0.59%
$196.67
Wisconsin
1.76%
$586.67
Wyoming
0.61%
$203.33
California property taxes are governed by Proposition 13, which caps the assessed value increase at 2% per year. The average effective property tax rate is 0.76% — well below the national average — but high home prices mean dollar amounts are significant. California is a community property state, which can affect mortgage qualifications for married couples.
Median home price: $785,000. Average property tax: 0.76%. Cost of living index: 149 (US avg = 100).
The average effective property tax rate in California is 0.76%. This means on a $785,000 home, you would pay approximately $5,966/year ($497.17/month) in property taxes. Note that actual property taxes are based on the county-assessed value, which may differ from the purchase price, and individual rates vary by county.
At the California median home price of $785,000 with 20% down and a 7% rate, total monthly housing costs (PITI) are approximately $4,825.27. Using the 28% housing-to-income rule, you would need a gross monthly income of about $17,233.09, or $206,797/year. With less down payment or higher home price, the required income increases.
Yes — California is a community property state. This means that for married couples, both spouses' income and debts are generally considered jointly owned. For mortgage purposes, lenders may consider both spouses' income and credit scores even if only one is on the loan application.
A 30-year mortgage has lower monthly payments but you pay significantly more interest over time. For example, on a $628,000 loan at 7%, monthly P&I is $4,178.10 (30yr) vs. $5,644.64 (15yr). Choose 30-year if cash flow is tight; choose 15-year if you can comfortably afford the higher payment.
Beyond the mortgage payment, budget for: (1) Closing costs — typically 2–5% of the loan amount at purchase; (2) Home inspection — $300–$600; (3) Property taxes — $5,966/year at California average rates on a $785,000 home; (4) Homeowners insurance — $1,200–$2,400/year; (5) HOA fees if applicable; (6) Maintenance reserve — budget 1–2% of home value annually.
California Mortgage Math: Property Tax, Insurance, and PITI
Your California mortgage payment has four components — the PITI breakdown: Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance. Principal and interest are determined by your loan amount, rate, and term. Property tax and homeowners insurance are usually escrowed monthly. In California, the average effective property tax rate is 0.76% — below the US average of 1.10%.
On the median California home ($785,000), the property tax line alone runs roughly $5,966 annually — about $497 per month before factoring in any local supplemental levies. Homeowners insurance typically adds $1,200–$2,400/year depending on coverage and risk profile, with hurricane/wildfire-prone areas paying more.
California Home Prices in National Context
The median home price in California is $785,000, 87.3% above the US median of $419,200. Relative to California's median household income of $84,907, the median home costs about 9.2× annual income — a useful affordability benchmark. Home-price-to-income ratios above 5× typically signal a stretched market; below 3× indicates affordability headroom.
California property taxes are governed by Proposition 13, which caps the assessed value increase at 2% per year. The average effective property tax rate is 0.76% — well below the national average — but high home prices mean dollar amounts are significant. California is a community property state, which can affect mortgage qualifications for married couples. Local variation within California can be substantial — coastal/metro counties typically run well above the state median, while inland and rural counties can sit far below. Use the calculator above with your specific target price, and verify the property tax line by looking up the assessed value and millage rate for your target county.
Affordability Math: How Much Home Can You Actually Carry?
Conventional underwriting caps total housing costs at 28% of gross monthly income (the "front-end" ratio) and total debt at 36%–43% (the "back-end" ratio). On the California median household income of $84,907, that's a maximum housing budget of about $1,981 per month. With California's lower-than-average property taxes, that budget supports a mortgage in the range of $212,268–$297,175 at current 30-year fixed rates.
The 20% down payment is a useful benchmark — it eliminates private mortgage insurance (PMI) and signals creditworthiness — but isn't required. FHA loans accept 3.5% down with a credit score of 580+; VA loans (eligible veterans) and USDA loans (rural areas) can offer 0% down. Each path has tradeoffs in upfront fees, ongoing insurance, and rate competitiveness; run the math both ways before committing.
Closing Costs and Ongoing Ownership Costs in California
Beyond the down payment, budget 2%–5% of the loan amount for closing costs: lender origination fees, title insurance, appraisal, recording fees, prepaid taxes and insurance, and (in some states) transfer taxes. On a $628,000 loan, that's roughly $18,840–$31,400 due at closing. Some sellers will credit closing costs in soft markets — always ask.
Plan for ongoing maintenance reserves of 1%–2% of home value annually — about $11,775/year on the California median home. HOA dues (if applicable), utilities, and major capital expenses (roof, HVAC, hot water heater) accumulate. The all-in cost of homeownership in California typically runs 1.3×–1.5× the mortgage payment alone once tax, insurance, maintenance, and major repairs are included over a typical holding period.