Santa Cruz Housing Market Report – July 2026
Here's a look at how the Santa Cruz, CA real estate market performed in July 2026, based on actual sold data from the MLS.
Market Snapshot
- Homes Sold: 75
- Median Sale Price: $1,225,000
- Average Sale Price: $1,531,816
- Average Price Per Sq Ft: $925
- Average Days on Market: 78
- Sale-to-List Price Ratio: 99.8%
Month-Over-Month Trends
Compared to June, the median sale price in Santa Cruz moved 2.0% down (from $1,250,000 to $1,225,000). The number of homes sold was 15.7% down compared to the prior month (89 vs. 75). Average days on market shifted 16.4% up (67 days to 78 days).
Year-Over-Year Comparison
Compared to July 2025, the median sale price is 9.3% down (from $1,350,000 to $1,225,000). Sales volume is 1.4% up year-over-year.
What This Means
Santa Cruz's housing market is cooling noticeably as we head into late summer. Median prices have declined 9.3% year-over-year to $1,225,000, suggesting the market has shifted from the aggressive appreciation we saw a couple years ago. The month-over-month dip of 2% isn't alarming on its own, but it signals continued downward pressure. What's more telling is that homes are staying on the market longer—now averaging 78 days compared to 67 last month. This isn't unusual for July seasonally, but the trend is worth watching as we move into fall.
The good news for sellers: homes are still selling at 99.8% of list price, indicating the market hasn't become a buyer's free-for-all. However, rising inventory to 235 active listings suggests sellers are losing leverage. Properties are sitting longer before sale, and with a growing pipeline of homes asking $1,325,000 on average, competition is intensifying. The market appears to be normalizing after years of scarcity-driven gains. For buyers, this presents a rare window of negotiating power in Santa Cruz. For sellers, pricing realistically and staging well will be increasingly important to stand out.
Santa Cruz Sales by Zip Code
| Zip Code | Homes Sold | Median Price | Avg $/SqFt | Avg DOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95062 | 38 | $1,105,750 | $966 | 97 |
| 95060 | 28 | $1,326,000 | $910 | 64 |
| 95065 | 9 | $1,185,000 | $789 | 49 |
Sales by Property Type
| Property Type | Homes Sold | Median Price | Avg $/SqFt |
|---|---|---|---|
| SINGLE_FAMILY | 50 | $1,512,500 | $1,041 |
| TOWNHOMES | 8 | $825,000 | $689 |
| CONDOS | 6 | $637,000 | $703 |
| MOBILE | 5 | $414,500 | $534 |
| CONDO | 2 | $777,500 | $954 |
| LAND | 2 | $625,000 | N/A |
| OTHER | 1 | $1,225,000 | $556 |
| MULTI_FAMILY | 1 | $1,350,000 | $788 |
Sales by Price Range
| Price Range | Homes Sold |
|---|---|
| $100K - $199K | 2 |
| $200K - $299K | 2 |
| $300K - $399K | 1 |
| $400K - $499K | 3 |
| $500K - $749K | 7 |
| $750K+ | 60 |
Current Active Listings
As of this report, there are 235 active listings in Santa Cruz with a median asking price of $1,325,000 and an average of 94 days on market.
Thinking About Selling Your Santa Cruz Home?
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