Podcaster Bobbi Althoff asked Mark Cuban for $5 million to buy a house. His response highlights housing affordability

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Back successful 2023, Mark Cuban recovered himself seated connected a warehouse level alongside viral sensation Bobbi Althoff arsenic a impermanent connected The Really Good Podcast (1).

During the 58-minute interview, Althoff utilized her awkward yet engaging tactics to get Cuban to unfastened up astir a scope of topics, from the Mavericks to Shark Tank — and adjacent asked him for $5 cardinal to bargain a home.

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“You could springiness maine a cardinal dollars close present and it astir apt wouldn’t adjacent impact you,” Althoff quipped, negotiating with Cuban. “Fine $5 million, we’ll spell small. I could bargain a location successful Southern California.”

Despite uncovering communal crushed implicit their shared day and lactose intolerance, Cuban didn’t springiness in. He cautioned Althoff that adjacent with a multimillion-dollar handout, California surviving would stay beyond her means.

“I would person fixed you $5 cardinal for nothing,” the Shark Tank prima replied.

Cuban explained to her wherefore owning a location that costly wouldn’t enactment out, adjacent if helium bought it for her.

When the podcast initially aired backmost successful 2023, the median merchantability terms of a California location was $742,000, according to Redfin (2). Prices are present astir 7% higher, with the median merchantability terms nearing $800,000 — making California the astir costly spot to bargain a location successful America (3).

Cuban emphasized the value of considering the afloat fiscal representation erstwhile reasoning astir homeownership. While you whitethorn judge you tin spend the archetypal down payment, determination tin beryllium important ongoing expenses associated with maintaining a property.

“You’d person to wage each those taxes,” said Cuban, nodding to the precocious spot taxation rates successful California.

According to the California Association of Realtors November 2025 data, a minimum yearly income of $223,600 is indispensable to spend the costs associated with homeownership successful the state.

Thankfully, determination are ways you tin marque wealth connected the existent existent property marketplace that don’t impact buying a home, paying spot taxes oregon taking connected the enactment of managing a rental spot and tenants.