Greater San Diego REALTORS®: March 2026 Market Sees Sales Decline 53.6% Year-Over-Year Amidst Tight Inventory

Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS® — March 2026

The Greater San Diego housing market experienced a notable slowdown in March 2026, with total sales reaching 19, marking a significant 53.6% decrease compared to March 2025. Despite the sales dip, the market remains characterized as a sellers' market, supported by 1.4 months of inventory, according to the Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS®.

Market Analysis

Total sales for March 2026 stood at 19, an increase from the 16 sales recorded in February 2026, but a substantial decline from the 31 sales in March 2025. This represents a year-over-year sales change of -53.6%. New listings for the month totaled 32, while active listings were 52, indicating a relatively constrained supply environment. The sales-to-new-listings ratio (SNLR) was 59.4%.

The market's months of inventory remained steady at 1.4 months in March 2026, consistent with February 2026, but significantly lower than the 2.5 months observed in March 2025. This tight inventory level continues to support a sellers' market condition, despite the overall reduction in transaction volume.

Property Type Analysis

In March 2026, detached homes accounted for the majority of sales, with 13 transactions. Attached properties, including townhouses, recorded 6 sales during the same period. Specific benchmark prices for these property types are not available for this report.

Regional Highlights

Focusing on the 92040 zip code (Lakeside), the detached housing market saw 13 closed sales in March 2026, a 53.6% decrease year-over-year. The median price for detached homes in this area was $740,000, reflecting a 15.4% decline from the prior year. Months of supply for detached homes in Lakeside was 1.4.

For attached properties in Lakeside (92040), there were 6 closed sales, representing a 50% increase year-over-year. The median price for attached homes was $350,000, a 12.5% decrease from the previous year. The months of supply for attached homes in this specific region was 5.2.

For Buyers

Buyers in the Greater San Diego market face a competitive environment due to low inventory levels, which stand at 1.4 months. Preparedness with pre-approvals and swift decision-making remains crucial for securing a property, particularly in areas with high demand.

For Sellers

Sellers continue to benefit from a market favoring their position, as indicated by the low months of inventory. However, the significant year-over-year decline in total sales suggests that pricing strategies should remain realistic to attract buyers and facilitate transactions in a market with reduced activity.