A California household earning the median income now needs ~15 yr to save a ~20% down payment, one of the longest timelines nationwide.
Typical California homes now cost ~$776K, while median household income is ~$106K, showing why many buyers need far more time to build savings.
At California's minimum wage, saving alone for a down payment would take ~44 yr, underscoring how challenging entry-level buying is statewide for many.
Geography and policy tightened supply: the Pacific, mountains, and protected land limited growth, while a long-standing tax cap discouraged turnover and kept inventory constrained.
For households without equity, first-home searches increasingly center on inland California cities, where lower prices offer an alternative to the coast, but longer commutes.