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Buying a home in Mission Viejo, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Mission Viejo is worth about $1,009,600, 37% above the California median of $734,700 and 3.0 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $5,876 a year in property taxes, about 0.58% of their home's value, lower than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $136,123 a year, so the median home costs 7.4 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 77% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 75% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Mission Viejo at a glance

Mission Viejo California U.S.
Median home value $1,009,600 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $5,876 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.58% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $136,123 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 77% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 75% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,382 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 24.2% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $2,839 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 34.2% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1979 1976 1980
Vacant homes 3.9% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 92,151 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Mission Viejo

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Mission Viejo home of $1,009,600 with 20% down costs about $6,342 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $8,186, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $271,798 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 56% of the median Mission Viejo household income of $136,123; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $506,000.

The median rent here is $2,839 a month, so owning the median home costs about $3,503 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$201,920
Loan amount$807,680
Principal and interest$5,433
Property taxes (0.58% a year)$488
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$421
PMI$0
Total per month$6,342

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$35,336
Loan amount$991,314
Principal and interest$6,669
Property taxes (0.58% a year)$488
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$421
FHA mortgage insurance$609
Total per month$8,186

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Questions about home buying in Mission Viejo

What is the median home value in Mission Viejo?

About $1,009,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Mission Viejo?

Homeowners pay a median $5,876 a year, which is about 0.58% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Mission Viejo?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $6,342 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $271,798 a year.

More about Mission Viejo

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data