03/29/2026
Southern California’s 59% jump in house payments chills homebuying; January’s 10,584 sales were the second-lowest count to start a year since 2005.; Only January
2023 was slower. By Jonathan Lansner | [email protected]; PUBLISHED: March 18, 2026 at 12:23 PM PDT | UPDATED: March 18, 2026 at 2:01 PM PDT; Why? A typical monthly payment for a local house hunter is up 59% in four years as the six-county median sales price remains only 6% below its all-time high.
Counting the counties
Ranking the jumps in the monthly payment burden across Southern California’s six counties over the past four years.
–– Orange: Payment up 78% to $5,745 in four years as sales run 27% below average. January’s $1,156,500 median is just 3% below the record high.
–– San Diego: Payment up 63% to $4,327 in four years as sales run 32% below average. January’s $869,500 median is just 3% below the record high.
–– San Bernardino: Payment up 56% to $2,520 in four years as sales run 37% below average. January’s $537,000 median is just 6% below the record high.
–– Los Angeles: Payment up 54% to $4,265 in four years as sales run 29% below average. January’s $875,000 median is just 5% below the record high.
–– Ventura: Payment up 54% to $4,156 in four years as sales run 26% below average. January’s $835,000 median is just 4% below the record high.
–– Riverside: Payment up 48% to $2,811 in four years as sales run 32% below average. January’s $600,000 median is just 6% below the record high.
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January’s 10,584 sales were the second-lowest count to start a year since 2005. Only January 2023 was slower.
