Alameda County, California: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Alameda County is worth $1,090,100, property taxes on it run about $8,061 a year (0.76%), the FHA loan limit is $1,249,125, and closing on it means about $1,200 in transfer tax. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $1,090,100 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $8,061 a year, 0.76% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $1,249,125 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $1,249,125 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $1,200 | California transfer tax page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $236 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $1,436 | Closing costs page → |
| Down payment help | 2 local programs found | First-time buyer page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $162,800; low-income limit $135,750 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Alameda County?
The median owner-occupied home in Alameda County is valued at $1,090,100, per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Alameda County, California - Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year).
How much are property taxes in Alameda County?
The median Alameda County homeowner pays $8,061 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.76% of the median home value ($9,108 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Alameda County?
$1,249,125 for a one-unit home in 2026 (a high-cost limit above the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $1,249,125, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Alameda County?
On the $1,090,100 median home: transfer tax $1,200, recording fees about $236, about $1,436 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Alameda County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Alameda County (Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area) is $162,800. A family of four counts as low income below $135,750 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby California counties
- Alpine County $466,100
- Amador County $422,800
- Butte County $408,700
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Alameda County, California - Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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