Study says you need to earn $258K a year to buy a San Diego home

[Zorro]

San Diego is the fourth-most expensive market in the nation, Realtor.com study says

A new study suggests a San Diego household must earn $258,926 a year to afford a local home.

The Realtor.com study said the required income to buy a home in the San Diego metropolitan area has increased 73% since 2019, and is the fourth-most expensive market in the U.S. The San Jose metro area, home to Silicon Valley, topped the list with $370,069 in required annual income.

Economists at the website based their study on the assumption a buyer would get a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, put 20% down and spend no more than 30% of their gross monthly income on housing. Those caveats may seem a bit outdated, with average down payments trending downward and buyers unlikely to spend so little on monthly payments in expensive markets.

“It may be unrealistic in San Diego,” said Alan Gin, economist at the University of San Diego, of the 30% gross monthly income factor. “Also, San Diegans entering the home market are likely to contribute less than 20% because our median income is nowhere near ($258,926).”

As of April, the area median income in San Diego County was $130,800, said data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/05/05/study-says-you-need-to-earn-258k-a-year-to-buy-a-san-diego-home/

It really is hard for a new homebuyer around here. We bought 30 years ago and it was expensive at that time, and we had to scrimp for the first couple of years.

[2naSalit]

1. Doesn't matter...

what part of the county either.