The percentage of households that could afford to buy an entry-level home in California stood at 59 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008, compared with 33 percent for the same period a year ago, according to a report released today by C.A.R. C.A.R.'s First-time Buyer Housing Affordability Index (FTB-HAI) measures the percentage of households that can afford to purchase an entry-level home in California.

The minimum household income needed to purchase an entry-level home at $248,030 in California in the fourth quarter of 2008 was $48,900, based on an adjustable interest rate of 6.02 percent and assuming a 10 percent down payment. First-time buyers typically purchase a home equal to 85 percent of the prevailing median price. The monthly payment, including taxes and insurance, was $1,630 for the fourth quarter of 2008. At $48,900, the minimum qualifying income was 42 percent lower than a year earlier when households needed $83,700 to qualify for a loan on an entry-level hold.

Recent decreases in home prices and mortgage rates have brought affordability into better alignment with income levels of the typical California households, where the median household income is $59,160.

At 76 percent, the High Desert region was the most affordable area in the state. The San Luis Obispo County region was the least affordable in the state at 44 percent, followed by the Los Angeles County region at 46 percent.

The First-time Buyer Housing Affordability Index also rose 6 percentage points in the fourth quarter of this year compared with the third quarter of 2008, due to a 14.1 percent decrease in the entry-level median home price.

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C.A.R. REPORTS ENTRY-LEVEL HOUSING AFFORDABILITY INCREASES TO 59 PERCENT