As homebuyers enter the Santa Clara County real estate market, they face numerous challenges in finding a property. Elevated mortgage rates, coupled with rising home prices, have put tremendous pressure on buyers’ budgets.
In July, the median price of a single-family home in Santa Clara County was $1,880,000, up 1% from a year ago, while the median price for a condo or townhome was $1,008,000, a 6% increase year-over-year.
It comes as no surprise that in 2025, realtors have cited “affordability” as their clients’ top obstacle, edging out the previous leading hurdle of “difficulty in finding the right property,” according to the National Association of Realtors 2025 Member Profile.
The top home-buying barriers (in order), according to realtors are:
- Housing affordability: 25%
- Expectation that mortgage rates might come down: 19%
- Lack of inventory: 17%
- Difficulty in finding the right property: 10%
- No factors are limiting potential clients: 7%
- Expectation that prices might fall further: 6%
- Low consumer confidence: 4%
- Difficulty in obtaining mortgage finance: 3%
- Ability to save for down payment: 2%
- Ability to sell existing home: 2%
It is of the utmost importance that homebuyers consult a realtor to help navigate the hurdles and complexities of buying a home in today’s market. A skilled realtor remains one of the most valuable assets a homebuyer can have. From expert negotiation to transaction guidance and local insight, the right realtor is not just helpful for most buyers — they are essential.
San José Spotlight columnist Neil Collins is CEO of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, a trade association representing more than 6,000 real estate professionals in Santa Clara County and surrounding areas. Contact Neil at [email protected].
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