California is often regarded as a state lacking in affordable housing, thanks to a paucity of available units, skyrocketing mortgage and rental rates and a rather dizzying cost of living .
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However, there may be hope on the horizon for those looking to purchase or invest in real estate in The Golden State — per a recent real estate forecast for 2025 performed by Realtor.com , housing availability will be on the upswing in the new year. The real estate surge is predicted to take place primarily in the South and the West, including states like California, a state with 10 regions in Realtor.com’s top 100 of 2025.
While only one California region cracked the top quarter of cities (with Riverside/San Bernardino coming in at No. 25), the state managed a solid showing in the top 100.
Keep reading to find the best California real estate markets of 2025.