Market report · Updated October 2026
San Diego County housing market, translated into plain English
This report summarizes where the San Diego County housing market stands in late 2026 and what the numbers mean for buyers and sellers. The short version: prices are holding near record highs, supply sits around three months countywide, and well-priced homes still sell, just on calmer timelines than the peak years.
Countywide picture
A balanced market, with prices holding firm
The 2025 market shifted from a tight seller's market to a more balanced one, and 2026 has continued that trend. The August 2026 data gave the county a clear picture: the median sale price reached about $965,000, up 7.1% year over year, with detached homes at a $1.12 million median and condos and townhomes at $670,000. Days on market have settled into a more normal pace, and inventory has tightened again this year. The biggest single force remains mortgage rates, which spent 2025 in the 6.5% to 7% range, dipped into the low 6s in early 2026, and climbed back to about 7% in late September. When rates briefly dipped below 6% in February 2026, sales jumped about 22% month over month, a sign of how much pent-up demand is waiting on the sidelines.
$965K
County median sale price, August 2026
Up about 7.1% year over year
3.1 mo
Months of supply, July 2026
Detached 2.5 months, attached 4.1 months
~29
Median days on market, August 2026
Detached runs closer to 35 days
7.03%
30-year fixed mortgage rate
Freddie Mac, week of Sept 24, 2026
Town by town
Median prices where I work
Median prices vary widely across North County. These are recent reported figures, each for its own period, a snapshot not a trend line.
Town
Recent median
Reference period
Figures drawn from public market reports and compiled for reference. Real estate data moves monthly, so use these as a starting point, and ask me for current numbers for your exact neighborhood and home type.
What this means for buyers
2026 is widely described as the friendliest buyer environment since 2019. More inventory means more choices and more negotiating room, and sellers are increasingly accepting below-asking offers, rate buydowns, and other concessions. If you've been waiting on the sidelines, the combination of more supply and calmer competition is worth a serious look, especially if rates dip again.
What this means for sellers
The days of listing at a stretch price and waiting out the frenzy are over. Sellers are recalibrating: honest pricing from day one, strong presentation, and patience through a longer market time are what close deals in 2026. The good news: well-priced, well-presented homes still sell, and with supply still below pre-pandemic levels, a serious buyer pool remains. This is exactly the market where staging, pricing strategy, and negotiation skill pay for themselves.
Sources
Where these numbers come from
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