Have you been searching for a home in Pasadena only to find that the one you like has several offers and will likely sell over the asking price? Did someone turn the clock back to 2005? Many homebuyers have decided now is the time to enter the housing market as monthly principal and interest payments offer a better alternative than renting.

As prospective homeowners return to the market, some seem surprised at what $400,000 will or will not buy these days in Pasadena. If you are relocating here from another part of the country, you may soon have your expectations dashed as reality quickly begins to set in. I think there may be a sense that home prices here in Southern California have been depressed to such levels that they are now compatible with the more affordable housing markets across the rest of the United States, which simply is just not true.

If your housing budget is set around the $400,000 level and you can’t seem to find anything in Pasadena that is acceptable or meets your dream home characteristics, you may have to consider other areas close by.

One that comes to mind is Covina. Located just 20 minutes to the east on the 210 freeway, you may find a better selection of homes in which to choose. Homes in Covina generally speaking, were built in the late 50′s or early 60′s and you may find the neighborhoods more homogenous in terms of architectural style, lot size and square footage. As for the most part, the “ranch” type home is probably the dominant style that is available.

I took a quick look at some of the available houses for sale in the Covina zip code of 91724, which includes the highly regarded Charter Oaks Schools. There are some very nice homes for sale under $400,000. If you still don’t see anything you like you can Search all Homes For Sale, by clicking the Pasadena Map in the upper left hand corner of our home page.