California Housing Market

It depends on which agency’s rules the loan is written to, and that is not something a homeowner can see from the outside.

Yes. The Franchise Tax Board sets out the mechanic in the 2025 Form 540 instructions: if you did not itemize federally but will itemize for California, complete a federal Schedule A anyway, then check the box on Side 5, Part II of Schedule CA (540) and complete Part II.

Not today. California excludes the value of a qualifying active solar energy system from your property’s assessed value, so adding solar has not added its value to what you are assessed on.

Two companies most homeowners cannot name stand behind trillions of dollars of U.S. mortgages. As of their mid-2026 filings, Fannie Mae’s single-family book and Freddie Mac’s portfolio together cover roughly $7 trillion in home loans.

More than 668,000 California properties carried a FAIR Plan policy as of December 2025. Most of those households will learn about their rate increase when the bill arrives.

On July 1, 2026, a state law changed what the land under certain California homes is legally allowed to become. No local hearing preceded it. No owner received a letter.

What happened: The Federal Reserve held the federal funds rate steady at 3.50% to 3.75% in its January 28, 2026 decision.

What the Fed did: The Fed held its policy rate steady at 3.50%–3.75% in its January 28, 2026 decision.

Figures reflect Q3 2025 and are kept as a point-in-time snapshot. For current conditions, see our newer California market updates.