El Cerrito Housing Market Report – May 2026
Here's a look at how the El Cerrito, CA real estate market performed in May 2026, based on actual sold data from the MLS.
Market Snapshot
- Homes Sold: 16
- Median Sale Price: $1,190,000
- Average Sale Price: $1,221,484
- Average Price Per Sq Ft: $801
- Average Days on Market: 30
- Sale-to-List Price Ratio: 135.2%
Month-Over-Month Trends
Compared to April, the median sale price in El Cerrito moved 11.7% up (from $1,065,000 to $1,190,000). The number of homes sold was 5.9% down compared to the prior month (17 vs. 16). Average days on market shifted 31.8% down (44 days to 30 days).
Year-Over-Year Comparison
Compared to May 2025, the median sale price is 7.6% down (from $1,287,500 to $1,190,000). Sales volume is 11.1% down year-over-year.
What This Means
El Cerrito's housing market is showing some interesting mixed signals this May. While the median sale price jumped 11.7% month-over-month to $1.19 million, that's still down 7.6% compared to last year, suggesting we're in a normalization phase after a pricier period in 2025. The real story is in the speed of sales—homes are now moving in just 30 days on average, down significantly from 44 days a month ago. That's a healthy pace that signals genuine buyer interest, likely boosted by late spring seasonality and potentially some improvement in financing conditions.
The sale-to-list ratio of 135.2% is particularly telling. Homes are selling well above asking price, which means there's still meaningful competition among buyers despite year-over-year price declines. However, 40 active listings languishing at 104 days on market suggests inventory is starting to accumulate. This points to a market in transition—we're moving away from the seller's advantage of 2025 but haven't yet reached a balanced state. For buyers, this could mean more negotiating power ahead. For sellers, the message is clear: pricing competitively and curb appeal matter more than they did months ago.
El Cerrito Sales by Zip Code
| Zip Code | Homes Sold | Median Price | Avg $/SqFt | Avg DOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94530 | 16 | $1,190,000 | $801 | 30 |
Sales by Property Type
| Property Type | Homes Sold | Median Price | Avg $/SqFt |
|---|---|---|---|
| SINGLE_FAMILY | 16 | $1,190,000 | $801 |
Sales by Price Range
| Price Range | Homes Sold |
|---|---|
| $500K - $749K | 2 |
| $750K+ | 14 |
Current Active Listings
As of this report, there are 40 active listings in El Cerrito with a median asking price of $996,500 and an average of 104 days on market.
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