By admin 
Buying your first home in California comes with a hefty financial commitment.
The Golden State is home to some of the nation’s highest home prices — and a new WalletHub study found that the country’s nine of the 10 worst cities for first-time homebuyers are in California.
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However, not every California city is a tough place to break into the housing market.
“Buying a home for the first time is an exciting and important milestone for many Americans, but achieving that milestone is getting more difficult as prices and interest rates continue to rise,” WalletHub financial writer Adam McCann wrote in a July 14 article.
First-time buyers accounted for just 21% of all home purchases in 2025. That is well below the historical average of 40%, according to WalletHub.
To determine the best and worst places for first-time buyers, the personal finance website compared 300 cities nationwide on housing affordability, quality of life and cost of living.
Here are the California cities that ranked highest for first-time homebuyers:
Why is California so difficult for first-time homebuyers?
Affordability remains one of the biggest obstacles for first-time buyers in California, according to WalletHub.
“People willing and able to invest in a house this year must balance what they want and need with what they can afford,” McCann said.
The statewide median home price was $904,640 in June, according to the California Association of Realtors. While that was a 2.8% drop from May’s “record-breaking price” of $930,260, it’s still 0.4% higher than June 2025.
Meanwhile, mortgage rates have also remained elevated.
As of Wednesday, July 29, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage in California was about 6.75%, according to Zillow.
The California Association of Realtors said renewed tensions involving Iran and the United States have added inflation concerns that could keep pressure on mortgage rates and housing affordability.
“Often, people begin searching for their dream home without a realistic idea of market prices, interest rates or even their eligibility for a mortgage,” McCann said.
In addition, the finance writer said, homebuyers need to consider where a home is located.
“If the neighborhood is unpleasant, it can sour the experience of a great home,” McCann said.
Which California cities are the best for first-time homebuyers?
According to WalletHub, Roseville ranked as California’s best city for first-time homebuyers, placing No. 53 nationally with an overall score of 56.04 out of 100.
The Sacramento-area city ranked No. 130 for affordability, No. 52 for real estate market strength and No. 110 for quality of life.
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Clovis earned the second-highest ranking in California, coming in at No. 73 nationwide with an overall score of 54.62.
The Fresno-area city ranked No. 126 for affordability, No. 136 for real estate market strength and No. 51 for quality of life.
Which California cities ranked highest for first-time homebuyers?
While no California city cracked WalletHub’s top 50 spots for first-time buyers, several communities ranked well above many other cities in the state.
According to WalletHub, here are the highest-ranked California cities for first-time homebuyers:
- Roseville
- Clovis
- Lancaster
- Visalia
- Elk Grove
- Murrieta
- Victorville
- Temecula
- Vacaville
- Palmdale
Which California city is the worst for first-time homebuyers?
Berkeley was the worst city in the nation for first-time homebuyers, the WalletHub study found, earning an overall score of 27.97 out of 100.
The Bay Area city ranked No. 296 in the United States for affordability, placing at No. 299 for real estate market conditions and No. 281 for quality of life.
It was the lowest-ranked market overall for people looking to buy a home for the first time.
Where are the worst US cities to buy a home?
According to WalletHub, these are the 10 worst cities in the United States for first-time homebuyers in 2026:
- Berkeley
- Santa Monica
- Santa Barbara
- Oakland
- Anchorage, Alaska
- San Francisco
- Costa Mesa
- Los Angeles
- San Mateo
- Glendale
How did WalletHub come up with its findings?
To identify the best housing markets for first-time homebuyers, WalletHub analyzed 300 U.S. cities based on affordability, real estate market and quality of life.
The personal finance site then assigned the cities a score out of 100.
The rankings are based on data collected as of June 16, from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Association of Realtors.
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This story was originally published July 30, 2026 at 9:00 AM with the headline “What are the best California cities for first-time homebuyers? See top 10 spots.”
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