Should You Buy Now or Wait in San Diego, CA?
Pre-filled with San Diego's median home price of $920,000, a typical rent of $2,850/month, and a 0.8% property tax rate. Adjust the rate and price assumptions to see whether buying now or waiting comes out ahead.
Your situation
Negative = you expect prices to fall before you buy.
Waiting comes out ahead over 7 years
By $174,068 in net worth
🏠 Buy now — net worth at year 7
$419,692
⏳ Wait 18mo — net worth at year 7
$593,760
Break-even price
6.8%/yr
Break-even rate
—
Rent while waiting
$52,405
Waiting is ahead by $174,068 at year 7
Waiting ends with $593,760 in net worth — $174,068 more than the alternative — and holds up across a reasonable range of rate and price assumptions. Waiting only pulls ahead if prices move below about 6.8%/yr during the wait.
- ›Shortening the wait from 18 to 6 months cuts the $52,405 of rent you'd otherwise burn before owning.
- ›Waiting only pulls ahead if prices move below about 6.8%/yr during the wait.
⚡ Waiting 18 months means $52,405 paid in rent with no equity to show for it.
Rent vs Buy Calculator →Share on r/personalfinance, Twitter/X, or LinkedIn 📊
The San Diego market and the timing decision
Prop 13's assessment cap is one of the most underrated long-term financial benefits of California homeownership — your property tax bill grows far slower than your home's market value over a long holding period, unlike most other states.
California's top marginal state income tax rate of 13.3% applies, though San Diego's property tax rate (0.8% in this calculator) benefits from Proposition 13, which caps annual assessment increases at 2% regardless of market appreciation — a meaningful long-term advantage for long-tenure owners.
Compare other markets
Educational content only — not financial advice
Local price, rent, and tax figures are estimates for San Diego, CA and will differ by neighborhood and property. Future mortgage rates and home prices cannot be predicted. Consult a qualified mortgage, financial, or real estate professional before making a home-purchase decision.