Homebuyers in some of California\u2019s largest cities are putting down a hefty share of a home\u2019s purchase price than buyers anywhere else in the country, a new study has revealed.<\/p>\n
Homebuyers in San Jose, San Francisco, and Anaheim made the highest median down payments<\/a> in March among the 40 most populous cities in the U.S., according to a study by Redfin.<\/p>\n In all three California cities, the typical buyer put down 25% of the purchase price, the highest share recorded in the analysis.<\/p>\n The findings come as down payments are becoming smaller across the country, according to the study.<\/p>\n Across the U.S., the typical homebuyer put down $64,000 in March, down 1.5% from the previous year. The median down payment accounted for 15% of the purchase price, compared to 16.1% a year earlier.<\/p>\n While down payment percentages slipped nationally, California\u2019s housing markets saw an opposite trend.<\/p>\n California cities with the highest median down payment include:<\/p>\n San Jose: $425,000 While California\u2019s largest housing markets continue to command some of the biggest down payments, the state\u2019s housing market is beginning to grow more favorable for homebuyers.<\/p>\n A Redfin analysis in February 2026 found that several California cities qualified as a buyer\u2019s market<\/a> in January, indicating that there were more than 10% more sellers than buyers.<\/p>\n
\nSan Francisco: $422,500
\nAnaheim: $300,000
\nOakland: $200,000
\nLos Angeles: $174,000
\nSan Diego: $165,000
\nSacramento: $94,000
\nRiverside: $51,450<\/p>\n