Santa Clara County
Buying a first home in San Jose
The biggest inventory in the South Bay
All prices, payments and income figures on this page are placeholders while we finalize our data sources.
Overview
What it's like to buy in San Jose
San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area and offers the widest range of first-home options, from older single-family homes in East San Jose to newer high-density condos downtown and in North San Jose.
The numbers
Typical costs for first-time buyers
Typical home price
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Condo / townhome price
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Principal, interest, taxes, insurance
Income needed
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To qualify at typical price
Typical HOA
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Estimate only. Demo values are placeholders and not a loan pre-approval or financial advice.
Commute
Getting to work from here
| Destination | Drive | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown San Jose | 10–20 min | VTA light rail |
| Santa Clara / Sunnyvale | 20–30 min | Caltrain |
| San Francisco | 60–90 min | Caltrain ~70 min |
New construction
What's being built in San Jose
- Downtown and North San Jose condo/townhome communities
- Infill townhome projects along Berryessa and Alum Rock
- Master-planned pockets in South San Jose
Weigh it
Pros and cons
Pros
- Widest price range in the South Bay
- Strong job access across Santa Clara County
- Many condo and townhome entry points
Cons
- Prices still high relative to median incomes
- Quality varies a lot block to block
- Older housing stock may need updates
Alternatives
Nearby cities to compare
Santa Clara
Santa Clara County
Central location, tight inventory
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Milpitas
Santa Clara County
BART access and newer townhomes
- Typical home price
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Morgan Hill
Santa Clara County
More space for the same payment
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Get the Bay Area first-home numbers each month
City price updates, assistance program changes, new construction openings, and honest notes from our own buying journey. No listings spam.