A growing number of households were able to afford an entry-level home in California in the third quarter, as recent declines in home prices and mortgage rates have brought housing into better alignment with incomes.

According to the California Association of Realtors, 53 percent of households statewide earned the minimum household income needed ($56,100) to purchase an entry-level California home at $287,760 in the third quarter, based on an adjustable interest rate of 5.91 percent and assuming a 10 percent down payment. The monthly payment including taxes and insurance was $1,870 for the third quarter.

A year ago, only 24 percent of households could afford such a purchase, when households needed $100,500 to qualify for a loan on an entry-level home.

The High Desert region was the most affordable area in the state, with 73 percent of households able to buy an entry-level home, followed by Sacramento County at 71 percent.

The San Francisco Bay Area region was the least affordable in the state at 35 percent, followed by the San Luis Obispo County region at 38 percent.