California owners are equity-rich, income-tight on DTI. Most buy their second home out of state, where the same equity goes 2x as far. The strategy choice matters more here than anywhere.
Primary home value tracks the state-level Zillow Home Value Index for late 2025. Median household income is from the most recent BLS state estimates. The typical second-home target is the local market that draws the most second-home demand: Tahoe / desert / out-of-state place for California. Mortgage balance is set at roughly half of home value, the rough mid-tenure point. Edit anything once you load the calculator.
Most people guess wrong about how their state's market shapes the verdict. Seeing the typical CA household first gives you a baseline: are you ahead of it, behind it, or right on it?