San Diego County Market Update
August 2026, prepared by Jenny Dumai and Ilana Maczka, Coldwell Banker West
Get a Custom Report for Your HomeSan Diego County single family prices kept climbing in August, up 5.0% year over year, the strongest gain we have tracked this year, even as inventory stayed historically tight at 2.5 months of supply. Buyer activity cooled a bit as mortgage rates pushed toward 7%: pending sales dipped 14.3% for single family and 8.7% for condos. Condo prices held essentially flat year over year, offering more stability and, with less competition right now, a window worth watching for buyers.
Single Family Homes: Prices Up, Activity Cooling
Inventory remains the story for single family homes: only 3,272 were on the market at the end of August, 33.2% fewer than a year ago, holding months of supply at 2.5, well inside seller's market territory. Sellers are netting 99.4% of asking price on average, up from 98.5% a year ago, and the median price rose 5.0% year over year to $1,105,000, the strongest gain we have tracked in this report series so far this year. What shifted this month is buyer activity: pending sales fell 14.3% and closed sales fell 9.3% year over year, likely reflecting mortgage rates pushing toward 7%. Homes are still moving quickly, just 29 days on market on average, so this looks more like fewer buyers competing than a slowdown in demand overall.
| Single Family Metric | Aug 2025 | Aug 2026 | YoY Change | YTD 2026 | YTD Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Listings | 2,004 | 1,779 | -11.2% | 16,212 | -9.9% |
| Pending Sales | 1,447 | 1,240 | -14.3% | 11,044 | +0.7% |
| Closed Sales | 1,449 | 1,314 | -9.3% | 10,743 | +2.2% |
| Days Active in MLS | 32 | 29 | -9.4% | 29 | +3.6% |
| Median Sales Price | $1,052,500 | $1,105,000 | +5.0% | $1,090,000 | +3.8% |
| Average Sales Price | $1,426,120 | $1,474,157 | +3.4% | $1,441,055 | +3.7% |
| % of List Price Received | 98.5% | 99.4% | +0.9% | 99.6% | +0.3% |
| Inventory of Homes for Sale | 4,898 | 3,272 | -33.2% | — | — |
| Months Supply of Inventory | 3.8 | 2.5 | -34.2% | — | — |
Source: California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (CRMLS), Local Market Update, current as of September 15, 2026.
Condos and Townhouses: Flat Prices, More Listings
The condo and townhouse segment held remarkably steady in August. Median price was unchanged year over year at $660,000, and months of supply eased to 4.2, meaning this market is far closer to balanced than the single family side. New listings ticked up 0.8%, a small but real increase in the choices available to buyers. Closed sales dipped 5.0% and pending sales dipped 8.7% year over year, in line with the same rate driven pullback we saw in single family homes, but the flat pricing here means condo owners and shoppers alike are dealing with less volatility right now.
| Condo/Townhouse Metric | Aug 2025 | Aug 2026 | YoY Change | YTD 2026 | YTD Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Listings | 1,191 | 1,200 | +0.8% | 10,270 | +2.6% |
| Pending Sales | 682 | 623 | -8.7% | 5,425 | +4.7% |
| Closed Sales | 660 | 627 | -5.0% | 5,239 | +5.2% |
| Days Active in MLS | 36 | 39 | +8.3% | 38 | +11.8% |
| Median Sales Price | $660,000 | $660,000 | 0.0% | $650,000 | -1.5% |
| Average Sales Price | $814,673 | $795,162 | -2.4% | $786,842 | -2.2% |
| % of List Price Received | 99.1% | 99.1% | 0.0% | 99.2% | -0.1% |
| Inventory of Homes for Sale | 3,091 | 2,751 | -11.0% | — | — |
| Months Supply of Inventory | 5.0 | 4.2 | -16.0% | — | — |
Source: California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (CRMLS), Local Market Update, current as of September 15, 2026.
Where Mortgage Rates Stand
Rates have moved up sharply since midsummer. Freddie Mac's weekly survey put the 30 year fixed at 6.95% for the week ending September 17, 2026, its fourth straight weekly increase and its highest level since January 2025. The 15 year fixed averaged 6.26% over the same week. This follows a Federal Reserve rate hike, and it is a real headwind on affordability, we will not pretend otherwise. The upside for buyers who can still qualify is that higher rates are thinning out the competition, as this month's pullback in pending sales shows. If rates ease later this year, expect renewed buyer demand to return quickly given how little inventory currently exists.
Source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), week ending September 17, 2026.
What This Means for Buyers
- Fewer buyers are competing for homes right now: pending sales are down 14.3% for single family and 8.7% for condos.
- Condo prices are essentially flat year over year, which means less risk of overpaying while you shop that segment.
- Yes, rates are near 7%, so getting pre-approved and locking in a rate strategy with your lender matters more than ever.
- A few more condo listings are hitting the market, up 0.8% year over year, giving you a slightly wider pool to choose from.
What This Means for Sellers
- Single family median price rose 5.0% year over year, the strongest gain we have tracked this year, and sellers are netting 99.4% of list price.
- Inventory is still down 33.2% year over year, so well priced single family listings face very little direct competition.
- Homes are still averaging just 29 days on market, so a tighter buyer pool has not meant a slower sale.
- If you own a condo, price stability plus a slight pickup in new listings signals a healthy, sustainable market rather than a cooling one.
Curious What Your Home Is Worth in Today's Market?
We would love to walk you through the numbers for your specific street, whether you are buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on things.
Contact Jenny and Ilana619.666.1143 (Ilana) • 619.871.2052 (Jenny) • jennyandilana@homes4yousd.com
Single Family Homes: A Tighter Market
Inventory is the headline here. There were only 3,341 single family homes for sale in San Diego County at the end of July, 35.2% fewer than a year ago, which pushed months of supply down to 2.5, solidly in seller's market territory. New listings are down 14.5% from last July, so the homes that are hitting the market are being absorbed quickly: 28 days on market on average, and sellers are receiving 99.7% of their asking price. Closed sales are still up 5.0% year over year, so buyers have not backed away, they are simply competing for less.
| Single Family Metric | July 2025 | July 2026 | YoY Change | YTD 2026 | YTD Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Listings | 2,314 | 1,979 | -14.5% | 14,340 | -10.3% |
| Pending Sales | 1,438 | 1,388 | -3.5% | 9,793 | +2.9% |
| Closed Sales | 1,411 | 1,481 | +5.0% | 9,412 | +3.8% |
| Days Active in MLS | 29 | 28 | -3.4% | 29 | +7.4% |
| Median Sales Price | $1,075,000 | $1,115,000 | +3.7% | $1,085,000 | +3.3% |
| Average Sales Price | $1,388,350 | $1,445,416 | +4.1% | $1,437,237 | +3.9% |
| % of List Price Received | 99.0% | 99.7% | +0.7% | 99.6% | +0.2% |
| Inventory of Homes for Sale | 5,157 | 3,341 | -35.2% | — | — |
| Months Supply of Inventory | 4.0 | 2.5 | -37.5% | — | — |
Source: California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (CRMLS), Local Market Update, current as of August 15, 2026.
Condos and Townhouses: More Balance, More Activity
The condo and townhouse market looks quite different. Months of supply sits at 4.2, still favoring sellers slightly but far closer to balanced than the single family side. Closed sales jumped 17.9% year over year, the strongest gain in this report, and pending sales are up 6.9% year to date. Prices are steadier here too: the year to date median price actually dipped 1.5%, even though the July median rose 3.1% from last year. For buyers who have been priced out of the single family market, this segment is worth a serious look.
| Condo/Townhouse Metric | July 2025 | July 2026 | YoY Change | YTD 2026 | YTD Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Listings | 1,322 | 1,294 | -2.1% | 9,032 | +2.5% |
| Pending Sales | 697 | 664 | -4.7% | 4,810 | +6.9% |
| Closed Sales | 644 | 759 | +17.9% | 4,601 | +6.5% |
| Days Active in MLS | 38 | 38 | 0.0% | 38 | +11.8% |
| Median Sales Price | $635,000 | $655,000 | +3.1% | $650,000 | -1.5% |
| Average Sales Price | $774,704 | $808,015 | +4.3% | $785,980 | -2.1% |
| % of List Price Received | 99.1% | 99.2% | +0.1% | 99.2% | -0.1% |
| Inventory of Homes for Sale | 3,164 | 2,728 | -13.8% | — | — |
| Months Supply of Inventory | 5.1 | 4.2 | -17.6% | — | — |
Source: California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (CRMLS), Local Market Update, current as of August 15, 2026.
Where Mortgage Rates Stand
As of the end of August 2026, the average 30 year fixed mortgage rate is holding near 6.6%, with the 15 year fixed averaging just above 6%. Rates have eased slightly over the past couple of weeks after a stretch of higher-for-longer pressure earlier in the summer. Forecasters at Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association expect rates to hover in the mid 6% range for the rest of 2026, so we are not expecting a dramatic drop, but we are also not expecting a return to 7%. For buyers, that means qualifying math is fairly stable right now, which can make it easier to plan with confidence.
Source: NerdWallet national average rates, August 31, 2026; Freddie Mac PMMS; Fannie Mae June 2026 Housing Forecast; MBA Mortgage Finance Forecast.
What This Means for Buyers
- Condos and townhouses are your best opening right now: 4.2 months of supply, a dip in year to date median price, and far less competition than the single family market.
- Mortgage rates have stabilized in the mid 6% range, so you can budget with more certainty than earlier this year.
- If you are set on a single family home, be ready to move fast: homes are averaging just 28 days on market countywide.
- Getting pre-approved before you tour is more important than ever in a market this tight.
What This Means for Sellers
- Single family inventory is down 35.2% year over year, which means less competition from other listings and strong leverage in negotiations.
- Homes are selling for 99.7% of list price on average, so well priced listings are not leaving much on the table.
- If you own a condo or townhouse, closed sales are up 17.9%, buyer demand is very real, even with more supply on the market.
- With mortgage rates holding steady rather than climbing, qualified buyers are staying in the market instead of pausing their search.
Curious What Your Home Is Worth in Today's Market?
We would love to walk you through the numbers for your specific street, whether you are buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on things.
Contact Jenny and Ilana619.666.1143 (Ilana) • 619.871.2052 (Jenny) • jennyandilana@homes4yousd.com