Financial experts often recommend keeping housing costs below 30%–40% of your gross monthly income.
While 20% is ideal to avoid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), many programs allow as little as 3% down. Budget an additional 1.5%–5% of the purchase price for closing costs. 2. Explore Assistance Programs
Most California lenders require a score above 650 , though higher scores secure better rates.
California offers several programs specifically for first-time or first-generation buyers: How to buy a house in California