As quickly as the rest of this year has flown by, the summer season is now officially over.
Even though rates are high and sales have slowed, sales prices haven’t really decreased. In August, Vista set a NEW all-time sales record for detached homes. The median final sales price was $1,016,000.
There are also fewer detached homes for sale now. Inventory dropped 7% between mid-July and mid-September. You can see in the graphs below that inventory is also much lower than one year ago.
You can also see that the prices are holding steady, relative to 2025. So, even though inventory is down and buyer activity is down, the median sales prices don’t reflect a consistent downward trend.
Listings are taking about 2–4 weeks to sell: the median number of Days on Market for closed detached home sales in North County ranged from 15–27 days. This doesn’t take into account listings that are removed from the market, and possibly relisted at a lower price.
Here are August 2026 median detached home sales prices, with inventory numbers as of September 15, 2026:
Carlsbad – $1,925,000
All-time high: $1,972,500 – June 2025
Encinitas/Cardiff-by-the-Sea – $2,687,500
All-time high: $3,100,000 – September 2023
San Marcos – $1,227,000
All-time high: $1,340,000 – April 2025
Vista – NEW RECORD – $1,016,000
Last all-time high: $1,008,500 – June 2025
Oceanside – $990,000
All-time high: $1,031,000 – December 2024
Escondido – $922,000
All-time high: $1,044,000 – July 2025
Interest Rates
At the end of 2025, the Federal Reserve dropped rates three times. The most recent cut was on December 10, 2025. Until this month, the Fed hold rates steady, keeping them at 3.50-3.75%.
On September 16, the Fed decided to increase the rate by .25%. Today, the rate is set at a target range of 3.75-4.00%.
What’s more telling than the federal funds rate, which drives short-term rates, is the 10-year treasury bond rate, which helps determine long-term rates, including those for 30-year mortgages. The 10-year treasury bonds rate is 5.087% as of today (9/23/26). The spread is usually 1.25-2% when rates aren’t expected to cycle down. Today, 30-year mortgage rates range between 6.75–7.50%, depending on the loan program.
Your credit score also helps to determine your interest rate, and PMI premiums. If you’re thinking about buying or refinancing, start with a credit check, to make sure you can secure the best possible rates.
If you own a home, it’s probably worth more than you think. Contact me for a free personalized home valuation, or if you have any other real estate questions.
If you’re thinking about homeownership, we can work together to determine your mortgage options, your price range, and the best time for us to start shopping.
I look forward to hearing from you!
