Friday, July 17, 2026
San Diego home sales surge 16% in June
The county led Southern California's housing recovery in June, with home sales jumping 16.1% from a year earlier while the median price climbed to $1.085 million, according to the California Association of Realtors.
San Diego County posted one of Southern California's strongest housing market performances in June, with home sales climbing more than 16% from a year earlier as the state's housing market recorded its third consecutive month of annual sales gains.
The California Association of Realtors reported Thursday that sales of existing single-family homes in San Diego increased 16.1% year-over-year and 11.6% from May, outpacing the statewide annual gain of 6% and Southern California's 10.8% annual increase.
The county's median home price rose to $1.085 million in June, up 2.5% from May and 5.9% from June 2025, making San Diego one of the few major Southern California markets to post solid gains in both price and sales.
Statewide, existing single-family home sales reached a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 279,880 in June, up 4.1% from May and 6% from a year ago. It marked the strongest annual increase since September 2025 and the third straight month of year-over-year gains.
Despite the improvement, California home sales remained below an annualized pace of 300,000 for the 45th consecutive month.
CAR president Tamara Suminski said buyers are gradually adjusting to higher borrowing costs as more homes become available for sale.
"California's housing market ended the first half of the year on stronger footing, with home sales reaching their highest level in six months despite elevated mortgage rates and ongoing affordability challenges," she said in a statement.
The statewide median home price slipped 2.8% from a record $930,260 in May to $904,640 in June, although it remained above $900,000 for the third consecutive month and was 0.4% higher than a year earlier.
Economists said the monthly decline reflected fewer million-dollar home sales rather than widespread price weakness. Sales of entry-level and mid-priced homes increased while higher-end transactions slowed, according to CAR.
Southern California's median home price was $900,000 in June, up 2.3% from a year earlier, while regional sales climbed 10.8%.
Among major Southern California counties, San Diego posted one of the strongest sales increases. Orange County sales rose 12.2% from a year earlier, Los Angeles County increased 6.8%, Riverside County gained 7.1% and San Bernardino County rose 13.1%, the report found.
San Diego also outperformed neighboring counties in home-price appreciation. The county's 5.9% annual increase exceeded Orange County's 1.4% gain, Los Angeles County's 0.7% increase and Riverside County's flat year-over-year price growth, CAR said. Only San Bernardino County posted a gain comparable to San Diego's, with prices rising 5.3% annual in June.
Statewide, 42 of the 53 counties tracked by CAR recorded year-over-year sales increases in June, while 35 counties posted higher median home prices.
The association said housing inventory remained tight. California's unsold inventory index fell to 3.1 months in June from 3.8 months a year earlier, while active listings declined 10.4% from June 2025. Homes spent a median of 23 days on the market, down one day from a year earlier.
CAR chief economist Jordan Levine said the market's recent momentum could face new obstacles as geopolitical tensions put upward pressure on mortgage rates.
"June's rebound in housing demand helped the market close the second quarter on firmer footing," Levine said. "However, the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East has added renewed upward pressure on mortgage rates, which could weigh on affordability and create additional headwinds for housing demand as the summer buying season unfolds."
The California Association of Realtors reported Thursday that sales of existing single-family homes in San Diego increased 16.1% year-over-year and 11.6% from May, outpacing the statewide annual gain of 6% and Southern California's 10.8% annual increase.
The county's median home price rose to $1.085 million in June, up 2.5% from May and 5.9% from June 2025, making San Diego one of the few major Southern California markets to post solid gains in both price and sales.
Statewide, existing single-family home sales reached a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 279,880 in June, up 4.1% from May and 6% from a year ago. It marked the strongest annual increase since September 2025 and the third straight month of year-over-year gains.
Despite the improvement, California home sales remained below an annualized pace of 300,000 for the 45th consecutive month.
CAR president Tamara Suminski said buyers are gradually adjusting to higher borrowing costs as more homes become available for sale.
"California's housing market ended the first half of the year on stronger footing, with home sales reaching their highest level in six months despite elevated mortgage rates and ongoing affordability challenges," she said in a statement.
The statewide median home price slipped 2.8% from a record $930,260 in May to $904,640 in June, although it remained above $900,000 for the third consecutive month and was 0.4% higher than a year earlier.
Economists said the monthly decline reflected fewer million-dollar home sales rather than widespread price weakness. Sales of entry-level and mid-priced homes increased while higher-end transactions slowed, according to CAR.
Southern California's median home price was $900,000 in June, up 2.3% from a year earlier, while regional sales climbed 10.8%.
Among major Southern California counties, San Diego posted one of the strongest sales increases. Orange County sales rose 12.2% from a year earlier, Los Angeles County increased 6.8%, Riverside County gained 7.1% and San Bernardino County rose 13.1%, the report found.
San Diego also outperformed neighboring counties in home-price appreciation. The county's 5.9% annual increase exceeded Orange County's 1.4% gain, Los Angeles County's 0.7% increase and Riverside County's flat year-over-year price growth, CAR said. Only San Bernardino County posted a gain comparable to San Diego's, with prices rising 5.3% annual in June.
Statewide, 42 of the 53 counties tracked by CAR recorded year-over-year sales increases in June, while 35 counties posted higher median home prices.
The association said housing inventory remained tight. California's unsold inventory index fell to 3.1 months in June from 3.8 months a year earlier, while active listings declined 10.4% from June 2025. Homes spent a median of 23 days on the market, down one day from a year earlier.
CAR chief economist Jordan Levine said the market's recent momentum could face new obstacles as geopolitical tensions put upward pressure on mortgage rates.
"June's rebound in housing demand helped the market close the second quarter on firmer footing," Levine said. "However, the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East has added renewed upward pressure on mortgage rates, which could weigh on affordability and create additional headwinds for housing demand as the summer buying season unfolds."
