The San Jose house you didn’t buy in 1981
A $300,000 house at 1981’s average index level, tracked to 2026 Q2.
The metro index went from 50.7 (the 1981 average) to 558.8 in 2026 Q2, 11× its 1981 level. That makes a $300,000 purchase about $3.31M today.
With 20% down ($60,000) and a 30-year loan at 1981’s average rate of 16.64%, today’s equity is about $3.31M, 55× the down payment. The loan would be paid off by now, so the equity equals the house’s value.
The S&P 500 index fund this site compares against (the TSP C Fund) begins in 1988, so there is no market comparison for a purchase before then.
Run your own numbers for 1981 →
House figures are estimates for the whole metro market, from the FHFA index. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What is a 1981 San Jose house worth today?
About $3.31M for a $300,000 house, a 11× market multiple to 2026 Q2 by the FHFA all-transactions index for San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.
Why use an index instead of listings?
The FHFA index is built from repeat transactions on the same homes, so it controls for the mix of what happens to be for sale.
Is this investment advice?
No. This is historical arithmetic for education and entertainment.