California— Property Tax & Closing Costs
2024 Census dataEffective tax rate
0.67%
of assessed value annually
Median home value
$1,490,600
2024 ACS survey
Median taxes paid
$10,001/yr
2024 data
Santa Clara County's 0.67% effective property tax rate falls in the middle 50% of US counties — close to the national median of 0.81%. Within California's 58 counties, it's the 17th lowest. On the county's median home value of $1,490,600, the typical homeowner pays $10,001 annually in property tax — $8,372 more than the national median of $1,629. At closing, California's 0.11% combined real estate transfer tax adds roughly $1,640 on a median-priced home, typically paid by the seller. FEMA data shows 25.1% of the county's land area sits within a Special Flood Hazard Area — a high exposure level that may trigger mandatory flood insurance on mortgaged properties.
Calculate your true cost
Enter any purchase price to see the full cost breakdown for Santa Clara County.
County median: $1,490,600
Leave at $0 if the property has no homeowners association.
LTV: 80.00%
At closing
Monthly ongoing
Year one
High flood risk. Flood insurance likely required by your lender. Verify the flood zone at msc.fema.gov.
All figures are estimates for planning purposes only. Mortgage payment assumes a 30-year fixed rate of 6.8% — your lender will confirm the actual rate. Closing costs vary by lender and transaction. Consult a licensed real estate attorney and lender before making any financial decisions.
California property tax exemptions
Ways buyers in Santa Clara County may reduce their annual property tax. These programs apply statewide; verify county specifics with your local assessor.
Proposition 13
Caps base property tax at 1% of assessed value plus voter-approved additions. Annual increase in assessed value limited to 2% until transfer of ownership or new construction. Assessed values reset to market on sale.
View official source →Homeowners' Exemption
$7,000 reduction in assessed value for an owner-occupied primary residence (typical savings ~$70/year). Must occupy by January 1.
View official source →Disabled Veterans' Exemption
2026: $180,671 basic exemption / $271,009 low-income exemption for 100%-disabled veterans (or being compensated at 100% rate for unemployability). Stacks with Homeowners' Exemption.
View official source →Last verified 2026-04. Exemption amounts and eligibility change frequently — always confirm with your county assessor before claiming.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about buying a home in Santa Clara County.
The effective property tax rate in Santa Clara County is 0.67% — calculated as the median annual property tax paid ($10,001) divided by the median home value ($1,490,600), using 2024 US Census ACS 5-year estimates. Your actual bill depends on your purchase price, homestead or senior exemptions, and any special assessments applied in your taxing district.
California's combined real estate transfer tax is approximately 0.11% of the purchase price. On the median Santa Clara County home value of $1,490,600, this adds roughly $1,640 at closing. State Documentary Transfer Tax is $0.55/$500 (0.11%), seller pays by custom. Charter cities impose significant additions: LA Measure ULA 4% on $5.4M–$10.9M / 5.5% over $10.9M (seller; thresholds adjust annually per CPI); SF graduated 0.5% to 6% seller (BUILD Act reductions proposed Feb 2026); Oakland 1.0–2.5%; Berkeley 1.5%+; Santa Monica Measure GS 0.3–5.6%; Culver City 0.45–4.0%; Richmond 0.7–3.0%.
Partially. 25.1% of Santa Clara County's land area lies within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. Whether flood insurance is required depends on your specific property — check msc.fema.gov before making an offer.
Closing costs for a buyer in Santa Clara County typically run $29,812–$74,530 (2–5% of purchase price) on a median-priced home, including title insurance ($800–$2,000), appraisal ($400–$700), home inspection ($350–$600), recording fees ($100–$300), and loan origination (0.5–1.0% of the loan amount). Use the calculator above for a specific estimate at your purchase price.
Data sources for Santa Clara County
Every figure on this page is traceable. Verify the numbers yourself against the original public data.
Source for the 0.67% effective property tax rate, median home value, and median taxes paid (ACS 5-year, 2024 vintage).
Source for county-level flood zone exposure, wildfire risk, and other natural hazard ratings. Updated quarterly by FEMA.
Look up a specific property's flood zone and insurance rate map before making an offer on a home in Santa Clara County.
Guides for California home buyers
What every buyer should read before making an offer.
HOA Documents
HOA lawsuits — how to check for pending litigation against your future HOA before you close
A buyer closed on a house and only then found out about ongoing HOA lawsuits. Six checks you can run yourself before your contingencies expire.
Read the guide →HOA Documents
Undisclosed HOA special assessment — what you can do if you find out after closing
HOA special assessment not on the disclosure? One buyer got a $15,000 bill the day after closing. How to catch it before — and what to do after.
Read the guide →