Can I have two primary residences in California?
Ava Robinson
Published May 20, 2026
The short answer is that you cannot have two primary residences. You will need to figure out which of your homes will be considered your primary residence and file your taxes accordingly.
How long do I have to live in FHA home?
FHA Occupancy Requirement Mortgagors with FHA-backed loans are required to use their home as a primary residence for at least one full year. The borrower must take possession of the home within 60 days after the mortgage closes, and they must live in the home for the majority of the year.
What qualifies as a second home in California?
A second home is typically defined as a home you would live in for some part of the year. Unlike a primary residence, you do not have to live there for most of the year, and it doesn’t have to be close to where you work.
How much do you have to put down on a second home in California?
If to talk about investment, the second time home buyer can use a loan hand. Give 20% (give as minimum as 5% down) of the price, and you can take a credit to cover everything else.
Do you have to be a California resident to own a second home?
Unfortunately for owners of second homes in California, the definition of a full-time resident in California is a matter of interpretation. The law says that anyone who stays in California for any reason other than a temporary or transitory purpose is a legal resident and will be taxed as one.
Is it possible to have two primary residences?
Can you exclude gain on sale of principle residence?
Sale of your principle residence We conform to the IRS rules and allow you to exclude, up to a certain amount, the gain you make on the sale of your home. You may take an exclusion if you owned and used the home for at least 2 out of 5 years. In addition, you may only have one home at a time.
Can you depreciate a second home on an annual basis?
With an investment property, Weinstein points out that you can deduct depreciation on an annual basis, but you can’t depreciate a second home if it’s only used for personal use. What are capital gains taxes? According to the IRS, there are two main categories of capital gains tax: