Is Now a Good Time to Buy or Sell in San Diego?

by Sarah Bourke

One of the most common questions I get is, “Is now a good time to buy or sell in San Diego?” The answer depends on your goals, but the current market says this: San Diego is still competitive, though homes are taking longer to sell and buyers have a bit more time to make decisions than they did during the fastest market cycles. Redfin reports that in January 2026, the median sale price in San Diego was $970,000, up 3.2% year over year, while median days on market increased to 43 days from 37 a year earlier.

For sellers, that means well-prepared and well-priced homes are still commanding strong attention, but strategy matters more than ever. Buyers are comparing value carefully, and homes that miss the mark on pricing or presentation can sit longer. Zillow’s latest San Diego data also shows 31.7% of sales closed over list price and 54.8% sold under list price, which tells me the market is not one-size-fits-all—some homes are still drawing strong competition, while others need sharper positioning.

For buyers, this can be an encouraging moment. Freddie Mac’s most recent weekly survey shows the 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.00% as of March 5, 2026, down from 6.63% a year ago, which may help affordability compared with last spring.

My role is to help you make sense of what these numbers mean for your move. If you are buying, I help you understand payment, neighborhood value, and long-term potential. If you are selling, I help you price strategically, prep the home properly, and market it in a way that stands out. In a market like San Diego, timing matters—but strategy matters even more.

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Thinking about buying or selling a home in San Diego? Connect with Sarah Bourke at 619-972-9462, email sarahsdhomes@gmail.com, or visit www.sarahsd.com to schedule your free seller or first-time buyer consultation or take advantage of my affordability calculator. mortgage calculator, or market reports and Sarah's Reviews, let her clients tell you why they loved working with her.