{"id":15701,"date":"2024-06-12T23:04:49","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T06:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.storagecafe.com\/blog\/?p=15701"},"modified":"2025-09-04T00:11:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T07:11:40","slug":"the-best-california-cities-for-fixer-upper-bargains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.storagecafe.com\/blog\/the-best-california-cities-for-fixer-upper-bargains\/","title":{"rendered":"With California Home Prices Soaring, Fixer-Uppers Could Be A Viable Solution for Aspiring Buyers"},"content":{"rendered":"

California\u2019s housing market continues to reach new \u2014 mostly unwanted \u2014 heights. The median selling price of single family homes across the state has now surpassed $900K, according to the latest report from the California Association of Realtors.<\/a><\/p>\n

Even for California, that\u2019s a jaw-dropper, underscoring the widening gap between the Golden State and other buzzworthy states courting new residents<\/a>. Consider Austin, Texas: You can snag the same square footage there as in Los Angeles for roughly a third of the price ($590K versus $1.99M ). And let\u2019s not forget, Austin rivals California\u2019s cities with its thriving local economy and lucrative tech jobs.<\/p>\n

Many prospective homeowners in California are reluctant to or are having difficulties in securing a mortgage with rates now at over 7%. More than that, the for-sale inventory, particularly for what we would label as \u201cstarter homes,\u201d is dwindling as existing homeowners postpone upgrading to a larger home. Those who purchased a home a few years back when the mortgage rates were at around 3% have very little incentive to sell now, even if they are interested in a larger home or in relocating \u2014 as that would mean they\u2019ll have to deal with more than double mortgage rates.<\/p>\n

In this context, a question arises: A<\/strong>re there any affordable homes left in California?<\/strong> In other words, apart from relocating to friendlier shores, what options are there for Californians aspiring to homeownership?<\/strong> According to our most recent dive into housing data, fixer-uppers can be one way to go.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We analyzed over 3,100 listings in California, focusing on prices for turnkey homes compared to those hinting at repair work in the largest cities. Our analysis shows that pockets of affordability still exist in the Golden State. In some areas, you can save a significant amount of money by choosing a home that needs a little TLC instead of a move-in-ready option.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Bakersfield and Fresno emerge as the most budget-friendly options among high-flying California housing markets<\/span><\/h2>\n

Homes in Bakersfield are the most affordable among California\u2019s major urban hot spots. The asking price for turnkey homes here hovers around $436K, while a fixer-upper in the same location goes for around $275K. This results in an upfront savings of $162K if you don\u2019t mind the elbow grease. Of course, you need to budget for home remodeling as well, but it\u2019s a pretty good deal nonetheless, particularly for those with a penchant for DIY projects.<\/p>\n

Fresno is another California housing unicorn \u2014 an urban area where single family homes are still within reach. A remodeled home where all you need to do is get your stuff in hovers around $452K. However, if you\u2019re up for a bit of work, you could save almost $148K by purchasing a fixer-upper instead.<\/p>\n