Ouch: 40 percent spent on rent San Diego homeowners also see higher mortgages

Thinkstock/moneybusinessimages Only people in Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco paid more

In this years's third quarter, San Diego County residents spent 42 percent of their income on rents, up from 34.7 percent in the 1985–2000 pre-bubble years, according to zillow.com. Nationwide, rents took up 29.1 percent of income this year, up from 25.8 percent in 1985–2000.

Of the 35 largest U.S. markets in this year's third quarter, residents of only three other markets — Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco — paid more than 40 percent.

During the third quarter, San Diego homeowners saw a slight rise in the percentage of incomes they shell out for mortgages — from 34.1 percent in 1985-2000 to 34.4 percent.

In the nation, the percentage spent on mortgages dropped from the 1985–2000 period — to 15.4 percent this year from 21 percent in the pre-bubble years. This was true in many markets such as Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Dallas, Phoenix, and San Jose.