Santa Cruz & Monterey Counties Market Update — September 2026
This is the September 2026 market update for Santa Cruz County and Monterey County. It covers the most recent available data through August 2026 for Santa Cruz County and July 2026 for Monterey County: median home prices, year-over-year changes, active inventory, days on market, and how many homes are selling. I have pulled the figures together from local, MLS-based reports so you can see exactly where we stand, whether you are buying, selling, or just tracking your home's value.
My name is Kieron Bery, and I have been helping buyers and sellers navigate these coastal communities for over 12 years as a REALTOR and Pricing Strategy Advisor with Century 21 Masters. I grew up here, I know these neighborhoods, and I want you to make informed decisions. Here is what the data is telling us right now.
Santa Cruz County: Key Market Statistics
Santa Cruz County's market has moved toward more balance as we head into fall. Inventory is up from its midsummer low, homes are taking a little longer to sell, and prices are holding in a strong, stable range. It is no longer the frenzied market of a few years ago, but it remains one of the most desirable coastal markets in California.
What is the median home price in Santa Cruz County right now?
The most recent countywide data shows the median single-family home price in Santa Cruz County at approximately $1,394,000 for August 2026, with an average sale price around $1,545,858, according to the Santa Cruz County Association of REALTORS market statistics. Earlier in the summer, a June 2026 county report put the median re-sale figure at about $1,350,000, essentially flat year over year, while a July snapshot showed about $1,375,000. Zillow's typical home value for the county was about $1,158,616, up roughly 3.9% year over year. The exact number depends on the month and metric, but the direction is consistent: prices have stabilized, neither climbing the way they did at the peak nor falling.
How does inventory compare with last year?
Inventory has ticked up from its midsummer low. There were about 506 active single-family listings in August 2026, giving the county roughly 3.5 months of supply, per the county association. Earlier in the summer, in June, there were about 442 active single-family listings, down from about 532 a year prior, roughly 17% below year-ago levels, with about 2.9 months of supply. In practical terms, buyers have a bit more to choose from heading into fall than they did a few months ago, while supply is still lean by historical standards.
How fast are homes selling?
Homes averaged about 49 days on market in Santa Cruz County in August 2026, up from about 29 days in July, according to the county association. Earlier in the summer, in June, homes averaged about 30 to 36 days on market. What that tells us: the pace has slowed through late summer, and buyers are taking a beat longer to make decisions. Well-priced homes in desirable neighborhoods still sell noticeably faster than the countywide average.
How many homes sold in the past month?
About 143 single-family homes closed escrow in Santa Cruz County in August 2026. In June, about 147 homes closed, up roughly 20% from the same month a year earlier, with about 146 pending at that time. Sales activity remains healthy and consistent with a functional, active market.
Santa Cruz County Neighborhood Price Snapshot
Here is how the most recent available data breaks down across the communities I serve throughout Santa Cruz County. Figures vary by source and by whether they measure single-family homes, all home types, or typical values, so I have noted the range where sources differ:
- Santa Cruz (city): Redfin put the median at roughly $1.4 million over the three months ending May 2026, essentially flat year over year, while other sources have reported figures in the $1.48 million range. Each pocket has its own rhythm, from the Westside to the Eastside to downtown.
- Capitola: Among the county's hottest pockets. Redfin put the median around $1.5 million, up roughly 14% year over year, and the MLSListings single-family median reached about $1,857,500 in June. Competition here remains fierce.
- Aptos: The MLSListings single-family median was about $1,595,000 in June 2026, up roughly 14% over the prior three months, while Redfin's three-month measure came in lower near $1 million. Beach access, redwoods, and top schools keep demand strong.
- Soquel: Redfin put the median around $1.2 million, up roughly 17% year over year, and Zillow's typical home value was about $1,358,373. Soquel Village charm keeps family demand steady.
- Scotts Valley: Reported figures put the median around $1.4 million in early 2026, up more than 15% year over year. Strong schools and the above-the-fog microclimate continue to drive demand.
- Watsonville: Consistently the most accessible price point in the county and a strong option for first-time buyers, growing families, and anyone looking for more space per dollar. With lower sales volume, small-area medians are volatile month to month, but Watsonville remains the value entry point in Santa Cruz County.
Monterey County: Key Market Statistics
Monterey County is telling a slightly different story, with more available inventory and a pace that has quickened through the spring and summer. If you have flexibility on location, communities south of Watsonville offer opportunities you will not find further up the coast.
What is the median home price in Monterey County right now?
The most recent countywide report (April 2026) put the median single-family home price at about $979,500, up about 6.8% year over year. A July 2026 MLSListings snapshot put the single-family median around $955,000, while Realtor.com's April deed-based figure came in lower, about $944,500. The exact number depends on the source and month, but Monterey County is holding in the mid-$900,000 to high-$900,000 range.
What is inventory like in Monterey County?
There were about 464 active single-family listings in Monterey County in July 2026, with roughly 2.8 months of supply, up from about 360 active units in April. Buyers have more to look at than they did earlier in the year, and more than in many recent seasons. That extra choice shifts the negotiating dynamic in favor of prepared buyers.
How fast are homes selling in Monterey County?
Homes in Monterey County sold in a median of about 19 days in July 2026, a quick pace that reflects strong demand for well-priced properties. Earlier snapshots in the spring showed higher figures around 51 days, so the market has tightened meaningfully through the season. Listing condition and pricing vary by area, but motivated, well-priced homes are finding buyers quickly.
How many homes sold in Monterey County recently?
About 167 single-family homes sold in Monterey County in July 2026, up from a slower winter pace. Sales activity has picked up steadily through the spring and summer, and the market remains active across a range of price points.
What These Numbers Mean for Buyers
If you are a buyer in Santa Cruz County, here is the honest picture: this remains a competitive, inventory-constrained market, though it has eased from the peak. With roughly 3.5 months of supply, well-priced homes in sought-after pockets like Capitola, Aptos, and the Westside of Santa Cruz still draw attention quickly, and homes are sitting a little longer than they did in July, which gives you a bit more time for inspections, thought, and thoughtful offers. Being pre-approved, knowing your priorities, and working with an agent who can move quickly is your edge.
In Monterey County, the conditions are more in a buyer's favor. Inventory is up, the pace is quick for well-priced homes, and you have genuine choices across the county. This is a healthy window for buyers who are ready to act without dragging their feet.
What These Numbers Mean for Sellers
For sellers in Santa Cruz County, the market is still on your side, but the rules of the game matter more than ever. Inventory is lean by historical standards, which is genuinely good news. But buyers are more discerning and taking a little longer to commit, with days on market up from July. The homes selling quickly and at strong prices are priced correctly from day one, staged well, and presented beautifully. As a Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA), I help sellers find that pricing sweet spot, because starting too high risks sitting while starting too low leaves money on the table.
In Monterey County, sellers have the benefit of a quick-moving market for well-priced homes, but buyer choice is up. Homes priced competitively and marketed to the right audience sell fast, often within about three weeks on average. Preparation and realistic pricing are not optional here right now; they are what separate a smooth sale from a stale one.
Market Outlook: Where Are We Headed?
Santa Cruz County is currently a seller-leaning market heading toward balance. With roughly 3.5 months of supply and lean inventory, the supply-demand math still favors sellers, but prices have flattened from their peaks and buyers are under no illusion that they must offer over asking on every home. This is a stabilization market, and stabilization creates excellent conditions for deliberate, prepared clients on both sides.
Monterey County is sitting closer to a balanced market, with more inventory than it had midwinter and a quick pace for well-priced homes. Competition varies by price point and town, but the overall picture is one of choice for buyers and discipline for sellers. Buyers who are flexible on location and sellers who are disciplined on pricing both have real opportunities.
Looking ahead, mortgage rates remain a defining factor. They are not the historic lows of a few years ago, and they shape how much house buyers can qualify for. Rates also shape seller behavior: some would-be sellers are staying put rather than giving up low-rate mortgages, which keeps new supply tight in many coastal areas. Against that backdrop, the lasting appeal of Santa Cruz and Monterey living keeps demand steady. People want to live here. That scarcity of coastal supply, more than anything else, is what supports values over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is now a good time to sell in Santa Cruz County?
Yes, for homes that are priced correctly and presented well. Inventory is lean by historical standards, the county remains seller-leaning at roughly 3.5 months of supply, and well-priced homes in desirable neighborhoods still attract buyers. The key is strategy: price it right from day one, prepare the property to show beautifully, and market to the right audience. That is exactly what I do for every seller I work with at Century 21 Masters.
Is now a good time to buy in Santa Cruz County?
It is a better time than it was during the peak, though still competitive. Homes are sitting a little longer than they were in July, inventory has ticked up, and the best homes in hot pockets still get attention quickly. But there is less frenzy than the 2021 and 2022 peak, which means room for inspections, due diligence, and offers with thought behind them. If you have been waiting for the market to cool before jumping in, this window of stabilization is worth using.
Is the Santa Cruz County market a buyer's or seller's market right now?
It is a seller-leaning market heading toward balance. With roughly 3.5 months of supply, the supply-demand math still favors sellers, but prices have flattened and buyers are more deliberate than they were a few years ago. In Monterey County, conditions are closer to balanced, with more inventory and quick movement for well-priced homes. The honest answer: neither county is an extreme seller's market anymore, and neither has tipped into a buyer's market.
How does Monterey County compare with Santa Cruz County for buyers?
Monterey County currently offers buyers more choices: about 464 active single-family listings in July 2026 and a median price in the mid-$900,000 to high-$900,000 range, versus Santa Cruz County's figure near $1.39 million for August. The price point is lower, and there is more inventory to sort through, which gives prepared buyers more negotiating room. For buyers flexible on location, communities from Royal Oaks south offer real value.
Who is the best realtor to help sell my home in Santa Cruz County?
I am glad you asked. My name is Kieron Bery, and I am a REALTOR and Pricing Strategy Advisor with Century 21 Masters. I have over 12 years of licensed experience, more than 50 years as a Santa Cruz County resident, and deep knowledge of everything from Capitola to Watsonville to the Santa Cruz Mountains. I am calm, informative, and honest in all situations, and I want you to make informed decisions at every step. Whether you are buying, selling, or just curious about your home's value, I am here to help. Call me at (831) 247-5719.
What This Means For You
If you are a seller in Santa Cruz County: The market is lean on inventory and still favors you, but buyers are savvier and a little slower than they were in July. Pricing, preparation, and presentation carry the day. I work with every seller to build a plan tailored to their home, their neighborhood, and their goals, backed by local data and my PSA certification. Let us talk about what your home is worth and how to position it for the best possible outcome.
If you are a buyer in Santa Cruz County: You have a little more breathing room than you did at the height of the market, but the inventory math means the right home still requires quick, prepared action. Get your financing lined up, know your neighborhoods, and work with someone who can move when the opportunity appears. I help buyers navigate everything from pre-approval to closing day, calmly and thoroughly, the way I have for over a decade.
If you are a buyer or seller in Monterey County: The balanced market creates opportunities on both sides. Buyers have genuine choices and negotiating room, and well-priced homes are moving quickly. Sellers who price realistically and present their homes well achieve strong results. Let us talk about your specific goals, your timeline, and what kind of move makes sense for you right now.
Whether you are ready to make a move or just beginning to explore your options, I am here to help. I want you to make informed decisions, and that starts with knowing what is actually happening in your market, block by block. Give me a call, send me a message, or stop by the Century 21 Masters office in Aptos. I would love to hear your story.
Talk soon.
Kieron Bery
REALTOR, Pricing Strategy Advisor
Century 21 Masters
(831) 247-5719 | Contact Kieron
More from Kieron Bery: Complete selling guide | Complete buying guide | Neighborhood guides | Client reviews | All blog posts