Are San Diego Home Prices Increasing or Decreasing 2026 October

October 2026 market update using September 2026 San Diego County sales data.

Are San Diego home prices increasing or decreasing as we enter October 2026? Overall, prices are higher than they were a year ago, but the answer depends on the type of home and the time period you compare. September’s countywide median sales price reached $910,000, up 1.7% from September 2025. Detached homes recorded a stronger annual increase, while attached homes posted a small decline.

At the same time, both detached and attached median prices moved lower from August to September. Sales activity also slowed compared with the same month last year.

For homeowners, buyers, and sellers, this combination deserves a closer look. San Diego’s housing market is showing different conditions for single-family detached homes and attached properties such as condominiums and townhomes. Understanding those differences is essential when deciding how to price a home, evaluate an offer, or plan a purchase.

San Diego median home prices compared with September 2025

The September 2026 San Diego MLS report shows the following year-over-year changes:

San Diego detached home prices increased year over year, while attached home prices were essentially flat with a slight decline.

The overall median combines both categories. It is not the average of the detached and attached medians, and it can change when the mix of properties selling changes.

These figures cover San Diego County, rather than only the City of San Diego. They describe completed sales reported through the San Diego MLS.

Detached home prices increased 5.8% year over year

The median sales price for a detached San Diego County home increased from $1,020,000 in September 2025 to $1,079,000 in September 2026.

That is a $59,000 increase, or 5.8% when rounded to the report’s precision.

Other detached market indicators also show less available inventory and faster sales than a year earlier. Active detached listings declined 12.9%, while days on market until sale fell from 41 to 37 days. Months supply of inventory declined from 2.8 to 2.4 months.

Taken together, these figures suggest that limited detached inventory continues to support pricing, even though fewer transactions are taking place. That interpretation does not mean every detached home is appreciating at the same rate. Condition, location, lot characteristics, improvements, and competition still affect an individual property’s value.

A countywide increase of 5.8% is useful market context. It should not be applied automatically to last year’s estimated value of a particular home.

Condo and townhome prices decreased slightly

The attached home median declined from $671,500 in September 2025 to $670,000 in September 2026.

The difference was $1,500, representing a rounded 0.2% decrease. This is a small annual change, but the surrounding statistics show a different market from detached homes.

Attached inventory increased 5.8%, from 2,583 to 2,734 properties. Days on market increased from 42 to 44 days, and months supply rose from 3.8 to 4.0 months.

These figures suggest buyers have more selection and that attached sellers face more competition than they did a year earlier. They do not establish that every condominium or townhome has lost value.

For an attached property, buyers should examine comparable sales within the same development when possible, along with monthly HOA dues, association finances, assessments, parking, condition, and financing eligibility. Those details can materially affect a property’s appeal and total ownership cost.

Prices fell from August to September

Annual and monthly comparisons answer different questions. Prices can be higher than last year while still moving lower than the previous month.

Monthly percentages are calculated from the report’s published median prices and rounded to one decimal place.

The detached median also stood below July’s $1,141,591. That gives sellers a reason to evaluate current competition carefully instead of assuming summer pricing will carry forward unchanged.

A monthly median decline does not establish that every home declined in value. The median is the middle sale price: half of transactions sold above it and half below it. Changes in the size, location, condition, or price range of the homes sold can move that midpoint. The report’s median prices also do not account for seller concessions.

Entering October, the accurate description is that detached prices remain higher year over year but have eased from summer levels, while attached prices are slightly lower on both an annual and monthly basis.

San Diego September 2026 market statistics

The countywide market overview provides a broader picture:

Sellers received 97.5% of their original list price, compared with 97.1% in September 2025, an improvement of 0.4 percentage points.

The combination of higher median prices and lower sales counts is important. Prices and transaction volume measure different things. Fewer sales do not automatically mean lower prices, particularly when the supply of available homes is also constrained.

Closed sales declined 14%

San Diego County recorded 1,737 closed sales in September 2026, compared with 2,019 in September 2025. That represents 282 fewer sales, a 14.0% decline.

The slowdown affected both categories:

Despite the higher overall median price, total closed sales dollar volume declined 10.3% to approximately $2.123 billion. Fewer completed transactions reduced the total dollar amount of homes sold during the month.

For sellers, this means a higher median price should not be mistaken for a guarantee of a quick sale. Buyers are still purchasing homes, but September’s transaction count was substantially below the same month last year.

Pending sales also declined

Pending sales represent properties that went under contract during the month. They provide a useful view of recent activity, although not every pending transaction closes.

Countywide pending sales declined from 2,022 to 1,700, a 15.9% decrease.

Detached pending sales fell 16.8%, from 1,300 to 1,082. Attached pending sales fell 14.4%, from 722 to 618.

Because pending transactions often become later closed sales, this decline is an indicator to watch entering October. It suggests a slower recent pace of accepted offers. It does not establish the final October sales count or predict precisely where prices will move next.

Inventory declined overall but increased for attached homes

There were 5,684 active homes for sale at the end of September 2026, compared with 5,969 a year earlier. That is 285 fewer listings, or a 4.8% decrease.

The countywide total conceals a significant difference:

Detached buyers had fewer available properties than a year earlier. Attached buyers had more.

This helps explain why a single description of the San Diego market can be misleading. A seller with a detached home may face a different competitive environment from a seller with a condominium, even when both properties are in the same general area.

New listings increased modestly in September

New listings rose 2.0%, from 2,946 in September 2025 to 3,004 in September 2026.

Detached new listings increased 0.7% to 1,774, while attached new listings increased 3.9% to 1,230.

New listings measure properties entering the market during the month. Active inventory measures properties still available at month end. One can increase while the other decreases because homes also move under contract, sell, expire, or leave the market.

For buyers, the increase in September new listings means fresh choices continued to appear. For sellers, it reinforces the need to monitor newly listed competitors throughout the marketing period.

Detached homes sold faster while attached homes took longer

Countywide days on market until sale declined from 41 to 39 days, a 4.9% decrease.

Detached homes moved from 41 to 37 days, a 9.8% decrease. Attached homes moved from 42 to 44 days, a 4.8% increase.

These are marketwide figures for properties that sold, not promised marketing periods for new listings. A well-positioned home may sell sooner, while a property with an ambitious asking price or a narrower buyer pool may take longer.

The attached market’s longer selling time, together with increased inventory, makes competitive pricing and presentation especially important.

How much negotiating room do buyers have?

The percentage of original list price received offers one view of pricing outcomes:

The September figures suggest completed sales generally occurred below the original asking price. They do not mean a buyer can automatically negotiate a 2.5% discount on any listing.

The metric uses the original list price, so a property may have undergone a price reduction before the final negotiation. It also should not be treated as a complete measure of seller credits, repairs, or other concessions.

Negotiating strength depends on the specific property, competing offers, time on market, price history, and the seller’s circumstances.

Months supply shows different competitive conditions

Countywide months supply declined from 3.1 to 3.0 months. Detached supply fell from 2.8 to 2.4 months, while attached supply increased from 3.8 to 4.0 months.

The report calculates this measure by dividing month-end active inventory by average monthly pending sales over the preceding 12 months.

The comparison indicates tighter supply for detached homes and more available inventory relative to the recent contract pace for attached homes. It is a useful way to compare market segments, but it is not a forecast of the exact time every listing will take to sell.

Affordability remains a challenge

The countywide housing affordability index declined from 49 to 46, a 6.1% decrease.

Detached affordability declined 11.6%, from 43 to 38, while attached affordability declined 6.1%, from 66 to 62.

A higher index indicates greater affordability. An index of 100 means median household income equals the income needed to qualify for the median-priced home under prevailing interest rates. An index of 46 means median household income is 46% of that qualifying-income benchmark.

The lower September readings indicate that affordability worsened compared with a year earlier. Even attached homes, whose median price declined slightly, became less affordable by this measure. Purchase price is only one part of affordability; income and financing costs also matter.

The first nine months of 2026 provide useful perspective

September’s slowdown looks different when placed alongside January-through-September results:

Year-to-date closed sales were 95 transactions higher than during the same period in 2025, despite September’s annual decline.

The year-to-date detached median increased 3.3%, from $1,065,000 to $1,100,000. The attached median declined 0.7%, from $670,000 to $665,000.

These year-to-date medians reflect sales across the entire nine-month period; they are not averages of the monthly medians.

The broader picture is a market with modest overall annual price growth, a stronger detached segment, and a softer attached segment. September’s weaker sales activity is meaningful, but it should not be confused with a 14% decline in sales for the entire year.

What the October 2026 update means for sellers

Detached homeowners can point to a higher annual median price, lower inventory, and shorter selling times. However, the decline from August and the reduced number of sales make current comparable sales especially important.

Attached sellers should account for increased inventory, longer marketing times, and nearly flat annual prices. Pricing above similar competing properties requires a clear reason buyers can recognize.

For either category, useful preparation can include fresh paint where needed, addressing visible maintenance issues, improving curb appeal, decluttering, and presenting the home well in photography and showings. The best preparation plan depends on the property and the likely buyer; improvements do not guarantee a particular return.

The asking price should reflect recent comparable sales, current alternatives, condition, and location. Countywide appreciation alone is not a sufficient pricing method.

What the October 2026 update means for buyers

Buyers should evaluate the segment they are actually shopping in. Attached properties offer more inventory than a year ago, while detached inventory remains more constrained.

A property’s time on market, price reductions, condition, and comparable sales can help identify an appropriate offer. Increased selection does not guarantee every seller will accept a large discount.

Buyers should also compare the full ownership cost, including mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, HOA dues where applicable, and likely maintenance. A slightly lower sale price may not translate into a lower monthly cost.

September’s data provides context for a purchase decision. It cannot establish whether waiting will produce a better price or a more favorable financing environment.

Why neighborhood comparisons matter

San Diego County includes a wide range of housing markets. A condominium in Mission Valley, a detached home in Chula Vista, and a coastal property in Carlsbad may have very different comparable sales and buyer pools.

This report provides countywide figures rather than individual neighborhood price changes. Determining a specific home’s value requires a closer review of its location, property type, size, condition, amenities, and nearby competition.

Dawn Lewis and The Lewis Team at Real Broker help buyers and sellers connect the broader San Diego market picture with the details of the home they are considering. Dawn’s more than 35 years of real estate experience provides perspective when evaluating changing conditions and choosing a practical pricing or purchase strategy.

Are San Diego home prices increasing or decreasing in October 2026?

Based on September’s completed sales, San Diego County’s overall median home price increased 1.7% compared with September 2025.

Detached home prices increased 5.8% to $1,079,000. Attached home prices decreased 0.2% to $670,000. Both categories moved lower from August.

Closed sales declined 14.0%, pending sales declined 15.9%, and overall active inventory declined 4.8%. Within that inventory total, detached supply fell while attached supply increased.

For homeowners considering a sale and buyers planning their next move, the most useful next step is to examine the specific property and its local competition. Contact Dawn Lewis and The Lewis Team at Real Broker for a personalized San Diego home valuation or help evaluating your buying options. Visit DawnSellsSanDiego.com.

Source: September 2026 Monthly Indicators report for San Diego County, San Diego MLS, prepared by ShowingTime Plus, LLC; data current as of October 5, 2026. September figures are used for this October update; they are not completed October sales results. Year-over-year percentages follow the report’s published rounded figures. Month-over-month percentages are calculated from its published prices. Market interpretations are based on the reported statistics.