$228,400 is the minimum annual income the California Association of Realtors says a household needs to cover homeownership costs in the state, per its second-quarter 2026 data. That figure frames a 2023 exchange between Mark Cuban and podcaster Bobbi Althoff on The Really Good Podcast, in which Althoff asked Cuban to hand her $5 million for a Southern California home. Cuban said he would have given her the money. He then explained why even a paid-off house would not solve the problem.
The price spread
Two major data sources track California's median home price and land at different numbers. Redfin puts the statewide figure at $777,566 as of June 2026, up from roughly $742,000 when Althoff's episode aired in 2023. The California Association of Realtors places its July 2026 median at $887,680, more than $110,000 above the Redfin figure.
| Source | Period | Median price |
|---|---|---|
| Redfin | 2023 | ~$742,000 |
| Redfin | June 2026 | $777,566 |
| CAR | July 2026 | $887,680 |
Cuban's argument centered on recurring costs. Property taxes were the specific item he named. A multimillion-dollar home carries those obligations with or without a mortgage. Althoff also pitched Cuban on investing in her podcast; he declined that as well. His portfolio, per his website, spans NBA franchises and bakeries, among other assets.
Market context
On the Pioneers of AI podcast in late 2025, Cuban said the environment does not represent "a traditional stock market bubble," though he acknowledged that some companies competing for AI leadership may be overspending. Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft together account for 30% of the S&P 500, per CNBC. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, speaking at the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit in November 2025, said a 10 to 20% equity drawdown is likely in the next 12 to 24 months.
The Arrived Real Estate Income Fund, which holds more than $90.7 million in assets, has historically delivered an annualized cash yield above 8.4%, per the fund. Morningstar puts the ceiling for dividend-stock aristocrats at 5.51%, a spread of roughly 289 basis points. Gold has gained more than 30% over the past year, against the S&P 500's 24% return over the same period, per APMEX.