Santa Clara County, California: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Santa Clara County is worth $1,490,600, property taxes on it run about $9,766 a year (0.71%), the FHA loan limit is $1,249,125, and closing on it means about $16,400 in transfer tax. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $1,490,600 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $9,766 a year, 0.71% 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 | $16,400 (incl. City of San Jose base Conveyance Tax, City of Palo Alto Conveyance Tax and City of Mountain View Conveyance Tax) | California transfer tax page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $98 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $16,498 | Closing costs page → |
| Down payment help | 1 local program found | First-time buyer page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $205,500; low-income limit $162,400 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Santa Clara County?
The median owner-occupied home in Santa Clara County is valued at $1,490,600, per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts - Santa Clara County, California: Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year Estimate).
How much are property taxes in Santa Clara County?
The median Santa Clara County homeowner pays $9,766 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.71% of the median home value ($10,001 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County?
On the $1,490,600 median home: transfer tax $16,400, recording fees about $98, about $16,498 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Santa Clara County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Santa Clara County (San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA HUD Metro FMR Area) is $205,500. A family of four counts as low income below $162,400 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
- San Luis Obispo County $777,200
- San Mateo County $1,494,500
- Santa Barbara County $735,700
- Santa Cruz County $1,015,200
- Shasta County $347,200
- Sierra County $334,100
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts - Santa Clara 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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