Orange County, California: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Orange County is worth $962,600, property taxes on it run about $6,096 a year (0.67%), the FHA loan limit is $1,249,125, and closing on it means about $1,059 in transfer tax plus $2,514 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $962,600 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $6,096 a year, 0.67% 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 | $1,059 | California transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $2,339 owner's + $175 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $82 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $3,655 | Closing costs page → |
| Down payment help | 2 local programs found | First-time buyer page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $138,600; low-income limit $148,850 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Orange County?
The median owner-occupied home in Orange County is valued at $962,600, per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts - Orange County, California: Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year Estimate).
How much are property taxes in Orange County?
The median Orange County homeowner pays $6,096 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.67% of the median home value ($6,733 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Orange 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 Orange County?
On the $962,600 median home: transfer tax $1,059, title insurance $2,514 for both policies, recording fees about $82, about $3,655 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Orange County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Orange County (Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA HUD Metro FMR Area) is $138,600. A family of four counts as low income below $148,850 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
- Monterey County $723,100
- Napa County $838,800
- Nevada County $602,800
- Placer County $658,800
- Plumas County $327,400
- Riverside County $557,300
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts - Orange County, California: Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year Estimate)
- 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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