Welcome to a new year! I kept all of 2023 and 2024 in the price and inventory graphs below.
Usually, we expect December to be a relatively slow month for real estate. There aren’t as many homes on the market, and many people put their home buying on hold for the holidays. So imagine my surprise when Oceanside set a NEW RECORD for sales price, at $1,031,000. Also, there was very little change in inventory between mid-December and mid-January.
The number of days on market continues to grow in most cities. Early last year, most homes were on the market for less than 10 days. Today, most listings have an accepted offer within 30 days.
Here are the December 2025 median detached home sales prices, and detached inventory numbers as of 1/23/25:
Carlsbad – $1,775,000
Last all-time high: $1,940,000 – September 2024
Encinitas/Cardiff-by-the-Sea – $2,202,295
All-time high: $3,100,000 – September 2023
San Marcos – $1,071,500
Last all-time high: $1,297,000 – September 2024
Vista – $900,000
All-time high: $985,000 – March 2024
Oceanside – NEW RECORD – $1,031,000
Last record: $1,017,000 – August 2024
Escondido – $897,500
Last all-time high: $1,040,000 – June 2024
Interest Rates
Interest rates haven’t changed much throughout the year. Last year, many rejoiced when the Federal Reserve dropped the federal funds rate by .5% in September. Then, on November 7, they dropped the rate another .25%. Finally on December 18, they dropped the rate by another .25%. However, mortgage interest rates haven’t responded so far. Rates for most 30-year fixed loans still hover around 6.5-7%.
More than ever, your credit score makes a huge difference. If you’re considering buying or refinancing, start with a credit check, to make sure you can secure the best rate possible.
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. I would love to hear from you!