A finance expert said California's median home price sits near $930K, while households need ~$212K yearly to compete, far above the typical ~$116K income.
He argued the squeeze is real: steady jobs, respectable salaries, and years of savings still may not get many California families through the door.
In the Bay Area, the same expert placed a typical home near $1.4M, reinforcing his view that ownership increasingly feels like a luxury commodity.
Saving more, reducing debt, or moving farther from expensive job centers may help some buyers, but he said budgeting alone cannot close every gap.
His closing point was that California affordability now hinges on who the state still works for, as ordinary working families risk being priced out.
California: $212K Income to Buy a Home
