Why does down payment vary across California?

Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.

Yes, owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.

Can I find lower-down options?

Browse low-down-payment homes by city, many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.

Buyer authority CA

Estimated owner-finance down payment by city in California.

Down payments scale with home prices but flex by financing type. This ranks California cities by an estimated typical down payment on an owner-financed or low-down deal (12% of estimated median home value). This is a modeled directional comparison, not a survey of actual closings.

Last updated September 2026

California ranking

50 cities ranked. Click any row for the matching local page.

#	City	Est. typical down payment
1	Los Angeles	$108,600	View →
2	San Diego	$136,100	View →
3	San Jose	$138,400	View →
4	San Francisco	$143,000	View →
5	Bakersfield	$104,300	View →
6	Long Beach	$106,200	View →
7	Riverside	$105,400	View →
8	Oakland	$115,700	View →
9	Anaheim	$115,600	View →
10	Santa Ana	$109,100	View →
11	Corona	$128,400	View →
12	Chula Vista	$124,300	View →
13	Fontana	$104,500	View →
14	Irvine	$135,400	View →
15	Fremont	$139,700	View →
16	Oxnard	$111,100	View →
17	Santa Rosa	$111,500	View →
18	Oceanside	$99,700	View →
19	Whittier	$114,100	View →
20	Huntington Beach	$132,700	View →
21	Salinas	$113,300	View →
22	Hayward	$120,000	View →
23	Escondido	$108,600	View →
24	Garden Grove	$104,400	View →
25	Torrance	$119,600	View →
26	Glendale	$119,900	View →
27	Rancho Cucamonga	$130,900	View →
28	El Cajon	$100,600	View →
29	Elk Grove	$125,300	View →
30	Pasadena	$132,000	View →
31	Sunnyvale	$135,100	View →
32	Orange	$125,800	View →
33	Fullerton	$125,000	View →
34	Santa Maria	$98,500	View →
35	Santa Barbara	$138,500	View →
36	San Mateo	$139,300	View →
37	Simi Valley	$131,200	View →
38	Roseville	$123,700	View →
39	Concord	$117,400	View →
40	Vallejo	$122,600	View →
41	Murrieta	$124,200	View →
42	Berkeley	$132,800	View →
43	Temecula	$124,300	View →
44	Santa Clara	$133,300	View →
45	Ventura	$114,500	View →
46	Downey	$108,800	View →
47	Clovis	$123,800	View →
48	Costa Mesa	$124,300	View →
49	Tracy	$127,400	View →
50	Daly City	$123,700	View →

Methodology

Estimated down = 12% of estimated median home value (representative of owner-financed and low-down deals). Conventional loans typically require 20%; FHA can be 3.5%. Use as a directional comparison.

FAQ

Why does down payment vary across California?: Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.
Is 12% realistic?: Yes, owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.
Can I find lower-down options?: Browse low-down-payment homes by city, many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.