San Diego Real Estate Trends: Median Prices and Market Data

Decoding the competitive San Diego marketplace pulse

So, what is the marketplace pulse in San Diego today? It’s defined by intense competition, swift sales, and prices that demand a serious approach. You might be scrolling through listings on a Tuesday, feeling like you have all the time in the world. That’s the normal.

Then, the explosion—you find a property you love, but by Friday it has four offers and is pending for over the asking price.

This is the new normal. The data shows that homes in San Diego sell in around 20 days, and the most sought-after properties are gone in just 9 days. Relying on outdated information or gut feelings in this environment is a recipe for frustration. You need a plan that anticipates the market, not just reacts to it.

How data-driven insights create winning offers

This is a story we see often. A client, let's call him David, was relocating from the Bay Area. He was sharp, successful, and completely exhausted by the San Diego market. He’d made strong offers on three different homes in North Park and lost every time. He was using city-wide data, which told him the average home sold for just under list price.

His search for "real estate agent reviews San Diego" led him to our team. Instead of looking at city-wide averages, we dove into the hyper-local data for his target blocks. We built a go-to-market playbook that showed him exactly how much over list price homes in that specific area were selling for. The turning point was clear: armed with precise data, his next offer was confident, strategic, and—finally—accepted. This is the power of moving from broad statistics to a tailored strategy.

At The Cassity Team, we translate raw numbers into your competitive edge.

Gain your edge with a proven go-to-market playbook

You can’t control the market, but you can control your strategy. A powerful go-to-market playbook is built on understanding the key metrics that actually drive decisions.

Understand the key market indicators

Here’s a snapshot of the current San Diego marketplace pulse: ■ Median Sale Price: $994,000, reflecting a 1.4% increase year-over-year. ■ Number of Homes Sold: 859 homes sold last month. This is a 7.0% decrease from the previous year, signaling that tight inventory continues to fuel competition. ■ Median Days on Market: 20 days. This is up from 14 days last year, giving you a slightly larger—but still brief—window to act.

Analyze neighborhood-specific trends

City-wide data gives you the 30,000-foot view, but the real action happens on the ground. Did you know that while the county-wide median price rose modestly, some neighborhoods saw dramatic shifts?

• Upscale areas like Poway saw median prices surge by 32% year-over-year.

• In contrast, more affordable markets like National City experienced a 15% annual drop.

What does this mean for you? It means your strategy for buying in Carlsbad should be completely different from your approach in Chula Vista. This is where deep local knowledge becomes your most valuable asset.

Know how competitive your offer needs to be

In a market this active, your offer needs to be calibrated with precision. ■ Sale-to-List Price: The average home sells for 99.3% of its list price. ■ Homes Sold Above List Price: 36.4% of homes sell for more than their asking price. ■ Hot Homes: The most desirable properties sell for about 2% above list price and go pending in just 9 days.

Navigating these dynamics requires more than a pre-approval letter. It requires a strategy. We've seen it all, from offers written on napkins to complex negotiations involving rent-backs and appraisal gaps. (We don't recommend the napkin, but we do admire the commitment.)

See where buyers are coming from (and where locals are going)

San Diego's appeal is undeniable, and the migration data proves it. A significant number of homebuyers are moving into the area, primarily from other high-cost California metros.

Top Inbound Metros:

1. Los Angeles, CA

2. San Francisco, CA

3. Washington, DC

You're not just competing with local buyers; you're up against determined professionals from some of the nation's most expensive cities.

On the flip side, the rising cost of living has some San Diegans looking for opportunities elsewhere.

Top Outbound Destinations:

1. Phoenix, AZ

2. Las Vegas, NV

3. Portland, OR

Understanding these flows helps you anticipate demand and position your offer to stand out, whether you're buying your first condo or selling a luxury estate.

Stop guessing and start strategizing

The San Diego marketplace pulse is complex, but it's not chaotic. Beneath the headlines and the competition, there is a clear logic driven by data. When you have the right information and an expert team to help you interpret it, you move from a position of anxiety to one of authority.

You can achieve your real estate goals here. It just takes a better playbook.

Ready to build yours?

➜ Schedule your complimentary strategy call with The Cassity Team today.