U.S. home prices are slipping. Are San Diego home prices falling too?

Quick answer: Are San Diego home prices falling?

Not for houses. In October 2026, the San Diego County median sale price for detached homes was $1,065,000, up 6.5% from a year earlier, while condos and townhomes held flat at $658,000 (down 0.2%). Sales fell more than 20%, so the market is slower, not cheaper.

Key takeaways

• San Diego County detached prices rose 6.5% year over year in October 2026.
• Condo and townhome prices were flat, with 8.4% more homes for sale.
• Mortgage rates eased for a third week, to 7.18% on November 5.

If you've seen the headlines saying U.S. home prices just fell, you're probably wondering whether your San Diego home is worth less, or whether you should wait for a better deal. Here's what the local numbers actually show.

What happened nationally this week?

Redfin reported that the national median home-sale price was $388,604 for the four weeks ending November 1, down 0.4% from a year earlier, according to Mortgage Professional America. That's the third straight week of year-over-year declines, and pending sales hit the lowest level in Redfin's records.

At the same time, Freddie Mac's weekly survey showed the 30-year fixed rate at 7.18% on November 5, 2026, down from 7.24% a week earlier. That's the third weekly drop in a row, but rates are still well above the 6.22% of a year ago.

Are San Diego home prices falling?

Here's where San Diego splits from the national story. According to the San Diego MLS Monthly Indicators report for October 2026 (current as of November 5):

• Detached homes: the median sale price was $1,065,000, up 6.5% from $1,000,000 in October 2025.
• Attached homes (condos and townhomes): the median was $658,000, down 0.2% from $659,000.
• Sales: closed sales fell 24.1% for detached homes and 21.3% for attached homes.

So fewer homes are selling, but the ones that sell, especially houses, are still closing at higher prices than last year. You can follow these numbers month to month on our San Diego market report.

One caution: asking prices are softer than sale prices. Realtor.com data on FRED shows the San Diego County median listing price was down 6.28% year over year in September 2026. That gap usually means more listings are priced below last year's levels, while well-priced homes still sell close to their numbers. We covered that pattern in our post on San Diego price cuts.

Why are condos softer than houses?

Supply is the difference. In October 2026, attached-home inventory in San Diego County rose 8.4% from a year earlier to 2,663 listings, and months of supply climbed to 4.0, per the same MLS report. Detached inventory fell 4.1% to 3,054, with months of supply steady at 2.6.

Condos also took longer to sell: 46 days on market for attached homes versus 39 for detached. With more choices and more time, condo buyers have more room to negotiate, which keeps prices flat.

What does this mean if you're buying?

The slowdown in sales is your opening. Pending sales in San Diego County were down 25.4% for detached homes and 24.9% for attached homes in October, so you're facing less competition than a year ago. That's the same trend we flagged when pending sales first dropped.

Rates matter too. Here's my own math, using an 80% loan on the October detached median ($852,000 borrowed, 30-year fixed, principal and interest only): at 7.24% the payment is about $5,806 a month, and at 7.18% it's about $5,772. That's roughly $35 a month from one week's drop. Small, but it adds up if rates keep easing. Plug in your own numbers with our mortgage calculator.

What does this mean if you're selling?

Your home probably isn't worth less than last year if it's a house, but buyers are pickier. Detached sellers received 97.4% of their original list price in October, per the MLS report. Price close to recent sales from day one, rather than testing a high number and cutting later. If you're not sure where your number lands, read how to tell if a San Diego home is overpriced.

If you own a condo, plan for more competition from other listings and a longer timeline.

Bottom line

National prices dipped, but San Diego County house prices were still up 6.5% year over year in October 2026, and condo prices held flat. The market is slower, with fewer sales and more choices, which gives buyers some leverage and asks sellers to price carefully.

Want to know what this means for your home or your search? Call or text me at (858) 295-0556, or book a quick call at https://calendly.com/mance-riederhomes/strategycall. Buyers, you can browse San Diego County homes for sale.

Keep reading

• Mortgage rates at 7.4%: what it meant for San Diego buyers and sellers
• The October Fed meeting and San Diego mortgage rates
• Buyer's market vs. seller's market in San Diego

Mance Rieder | Broker Associate, DRE #02050930 | Rieder Homes Group | REAL Broker, LLC