🎉 Happy New Year! 🥳
As we head into 2026, we see the usual market slowdown. As of late January, inventory has dropped 5% since late December.
During the month of December, no new sales records were set. You can see in the graphs below that prices have slightly declined during the second half of 2025.
How much inventory is left? At the end of July, the number of homes available on the market peaked. In the past two weeks, inventory has dropped by over 11%. In the charts below, you can see how inventory has gone up and down for the past couple of years.
Listings are taking longer to sell: the number of Days on Market for sales has increased throughout the year. Today, most properties sit on the market for 3-4 weeks, before opening escrow with an accepted offer. In Carlsbad, the median number of days on market for December sales was 27. This is a substantial increase from previous years, when most homes sold within a week.
Here are December 2025 median detached home sales prices, with inventory numbers as of January 20, 2026:
Carlsbad – $1,805,000
Last all-time high: $1,972,500 – June 2025
Encinitas/Cardiff-by-the-Sea – $1,899,000
All-time high: $3,100,000 – September 2023
San Marcos – $1,021,000
Last all-time high: $1,340,000 – April 2025
Vista – $922,500
All-time high: $1,008,500 – June 2025
Oceanside – $963,082
Last record: $1,031,000 – December 2024
Escondido – $945,000
Last 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. This week, on January 28, the Fed decided to hold rates steady, keeping them at 3.50-3.75%. Today, rates continue to hover between 6-6.25%.
When you apply for a mortgage, your credit score makes a big impact on your interest rate, and on any private mortgage insurance (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!
