Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Monthly housing intelligence, market trends, and trusted local expertise.
As of the latest 2026 data
Median Listing
Pending Ratio
Active Inventory
Median DOM
Primary Intelligence Tool — Sold Score™
Will your home sell in today's cooling Santa Cruz-Watsonville market?
Sold Score™ analyzes 40+ local data points to estimate your home's probability of sale in the next 60 days across Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA.
The Santa Cruz-Watsonville market is experiencing a cooling trend, with a pending ratio of 0.28 indicating demand absorption is lagging inventory. Active listings have contracted by 14.2% year-over-year, yet this reduction is insufficient to elevate demand pressure significantly.
Local Market Signals
Source: FRED (St. Louis Fed)Local economic trends can influence how quickly homes sell and how much competition sellers may face.
Job Market
Unemployment rate · Jul 2026
Shows whether local employment conditions are supporting buyer demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (St. Louis Fed).
Population & Migration
Resident population · Jan 2025
Shows whether the area is gaining or losing potential housing demand.
U.S. Census Bureau via FRED (St. Louis Fed).
Future Housing Supply
Data not yet available.
Shows whether future inventory pressure may increase.
What's moving the Santa Cruz-Watsonville market right now.
Active listings have decreased by 14.2% over the past year, reaching 501 units, while new listings saw a year-over-year increase of 13.3%. Despite the reduction in active inventory, the pending ratio declined by 0.7 percentage points year-over-year, reflecting reduced demand relative to available supply. The median listing price registered a modest 1.5% increase year-over-year, but declined 2.4% month-over-month, suggesting price softening.
Market Trends
Median Price
Active Inventory
Days on Market
Sold Score™
Sold Score™ Over Time
Market liquidity index • 36 months
Price & Days on Market
Median listing vs market velocity
Inventory Dynamics
Total active listings vs new monthly supply
Sourced from Realtor.com RDC Inventory Core Metrics, supplemented by the Primpted research desk. Updated As of the latest 2026 data.
Market Signals & Indicators
With a pending ratio of 0.28, the market exhibits signs of moderating pace, granting prospective purchasers increased time for consideration. Inventory levels, though contracting year-over-year, still exert pressure on sellers regarding price discipline and market absorption. The elevated price-reduced share at 23.9% further underscores this dynamic.
In the luxury segment, the average listing price has declined by 5.1% year-over-year, and the median price per square foot has decreased by 2.1% over the same period, suggesting some softness at the higher price tiers. The average-to-median listing price spread remains elevated, further indicating varied performance across price points.
501 active listings represent the current floor, with new supply arriving at roughly 204 per month.
of active listings carry a price reduction, +6.4% from prior period.
Median price per square foot has moved -2.1% year-over-year.
Pending-to-active ratio — Cooling.
Recommended For This Market
CoolingSelling in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA? Homes here are taking 6 days less to sell than last year.
Buyers have leverage in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA. Homes that sell are the ones priced and presented for today's conditions, not last year's.
- Buyer Demand Index
- 28%
- Median Days on Market
- 53 days
- Inventory YoY
- −14%
In a buyer's market, strategy beats timing. See how your home scores in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA and what moves the number.
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