10/22/2025
🏡 The Real Cost of Waiting to Buy in California
Everyone’s waiting for that “perfect” rate to come back down…
But in California, that wait has already priced a lot of people out of the market.
In 2022, the median home price statewide was about $760,000 at an average 6.5% interest rate, which meant a monthly payment around $4,800.
Today, that same home averages $870,000 at roughly 6.8%, bringing payments closer to $5,650 per month.
That’s $850 more every month — or more than $10,000 a year — just for waiting.
And in that time, those same buyers missed out on two full years of appreciation and equity, worth roughly $120,000+ across many California counties.
Here’s what most people don’t realize 👇
➡️ Over half of buyers in today’s market are getting seller credits ($10K–$25K) to buy down their rate or offset closing costs.
So while many are sitting on the sidelines, strategic buyers are negotiating deals, gaining equity, and taking advantage of lower competition.
📈 Moral of the story:
If the numbers make sense for you, act now.
Time and equity don’t wait — and neither should you.
💡 In California real estate, strategy always beats hesitation.
