Feb 2, 2026 - Real Estate
Saving for a San Diego home takes 30 years
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It took the typical San Diego household 30 years to save for a median home down payment in 2025, according to a Realtor.com analysis.
- That's about four times longer than the national average.
Why it matters: Coming up with a down payment is one of the biggest barriers to homeownership, and it's gotten harder over the years.
State of play: The timeline has lengthened since 2023, when San Diegans saved for about 18 years for a 10% down payment.
- The median down payment was $167,814 in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the national average of $30,400.
- Nationally, the timeline is about seven years on average, and while that's shortened, it remains roughly double the pre-pandemic norm, per the analysis.
- "Higher home prices and intensified competition have pushed typical down payments higher, at the same time that inflation and rising household expenses have reduced savings rates," said Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale in a news release.
Meanwhile, most San Diego households making a median income have been priced out of the real estate market.
The bottom line: The share of first-time buyers in the U.S. has fallen to a record low as inventory and affordability issues persist, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- Many younger people are tapping family money to get a foot in the door.