NJV Financials
Wages, Rates & Affordability — National vs. California List Prices
Educational FRED data brief for Inland Empire buyers and sellers. 30-yr fixed avg 6.55%. CA median list $72,497. Educational commentary only — not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.
Wages, list prices, and mortgage rates — three levers
Affordability is a three-way balance: what you earn, what homes list for, and what lenders charge to borrow. NJV Financials summarizes public FRED data so Inland Empire buyers can frame conversations with agents and loan officers. Educational commentary only — not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.
Average hourly earnings of production employees reached $32.38/hr in May 2026 (annual full-time equivalent roughly $67,350, before taxes).
Broader private-sector average hourly earnings were $37.64/hr in May 2026.
Latest FRED readings
Average hourly earnings of production employees (private): $32.38/hr — observation 2026-06-01
Average hourly earnings of all employees (private): $37.64/hr — observation 2026-06-01
Median sales price of houses sold (U.S.): $403,200 — observation 2026-01-01
Median listing price — California (Realtor.com via FRED): $72,497 — observation 2026-06-01
30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac PMMS): 6.55% — observation 2026-07-16
Source: BLS, Census, Realtor.com Economic Research via FRED.
National sale price vs. California list price
The national median sales price of houses sold was $403,200 for December 2025 (quarterly series).
California's median listing price (Realtor.com, via FRED) was $72,497 in May 2026. List price is not the same as closed sale price, but it shows what sellers are asking statewide.
Inland Empire cities — Corona, Riverside, Moreno Valley, Perris — often list below statewide medians while Diamond Bar and Chino Hills trend higher. Always compare neighborhood-level comps, not statewide averages alone.
With the 30-year fixed average at 6.55% (2026-07-16), payment power matters as much as sticker price. A $50,000 price reduction does less than a 1% rate drop for some borrowers — run both scenarios.
Budget before you search
Set a comfortable monthly housing cost including taxes, insurance, HOA, and PMI if applicable. Pre-approval states what you may qualify for; your budget should state what you choose to spend.
Start at https://www.njvrealty.com/mortgage/prequal for educational payment scenarios, then pair results with NJV Realty neighborhood search.
Ready to talk numbers? Explore pre-qualification with NJV Financials or pair financing with buyer representation.