| Metric | Latest | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Median listing price | $1.72M | -8.9% YoY |
| Median price per sq ft | $861 | 2,052 sq ft median |
| Median days on market | 58 | -11% YoY |
| Active listings | 718 | +4% YoY |
| New listings this month | 260 | September 2026 |
| Listings with a price cut | 16% | Share of active |
| Pending-to-active ratio | 33.0% | 237 pending |
| Inventory vs 2019 | 72% | Active listings vs same month in 2019 |
| Gross rental yield | 2.2% | 2BR fair market rent |
Resort & second-home market · California · September 2026 data
What is the Santa Barbara, CA real estate market doing?
As of September 2026, the median home listed in Santa Barbara, CA asks $1.72M, down 8.9% year over year. Homes spend a median of 58 days on market, with 718 active listings and 16% carrying a price cut; pending contracts equal 33% of active listings, and inventory sits at 72% of the same month in 2019 — a balanced market. Estimated gross rental yield on the median listing is 2.2%. Figures come from public records and industry data, updated monthly.
Median listing price
$1.72M
▼ 8.9% YoY
Median $ / sq ft
$861
2,052 sq ft median
Median days on market
58
September 2026
Active listings
718
For sale now
New listings
260
September 2026
Listings with price cuts
16%
Share of active
Inventory vs 2019
72%
Same month, 2019 = 100
Pending / active
33%
Contract activity
What is the Santa Barbara, CA housing market doing right now?
The Santa Barbara, CA housing market lists at a $1.72M median as of September 2026, down 8.9% year over year, with a 58-day median market time and 718 homes for sale (16% with a price cut). Active inventory is 72% of the 2019 level, reading as a balanced market by days-on-market pace. Gross rental yield is about 2.2%.
Santa Barbara housing market statistics
The table summarizes Santa Barbara's key housing figures for September 2026 — median listing and closed-sale prices, market pace, inventory and rental yield — each computed from public records and industry data.
How have home prices changed in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara home prices are down 8.9% year over year and +1.5% month over month as of September 2026, at a $1.72M median listing price. The chart tracks the trailing eight-quarter trend in the metro's median asking price.
Median listing price, Santa Barbara CA · trailing 8 quarters · source: public records and industry data.
The 10-year view
10-year median listing price, Santa Barbara CA · June of each year, 2017–2026 · source: public records and industry data.
How much inventory is on the market in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara has 718 active listings, 260 new this month, 237 pending as of September 2026. About 16% of active listings have cut their price, and inventory sits at 72% of its 2019 level — a balanced market by pace.
Is Santa Barbara a good real estate investment?
Santa Barbara scores 44/100 on WealthyBud's composite Investor Score, ranking #574 of 933 covered U.S. metros as of September 2026. The score blends price momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market heat into one percentile. It is a research opinion, not advice.
Investor Score
44/100
#574 of 933 covered metros
Price volatility
High
σ 9.3% · 20-yr price-index swings
Santa Barbara scores 44/100 on our composite Investor Score (#574 of 933 covered metros), a percentile blend of momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market-heat readings; the metro's long-run house price index has it up 52% over five years and +87% over ten, leaving prices 57% above its own 2000–2019 trend; at the published FY2026 fair market rent of $3,124/mo for a two-bedroom, the gross rental yield on the median listing is about 2.2%; active inventory sits at 72% of its June 2019 level, so supply is still below pre-pandemic norms; listing prices are down 8.9% year over year; all against a national 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 7.28% (national weekly average, 2026-10-01).
Scores are percentile ranks (0–100) across all covered U.S. metros, computed from the public data cited on this page — formulas here. They are data-derived opinions, not investment advice. See how Santa Barbara ranks on the trending markets index.
How much is a monthly mortgage payment in Santa Barbara?
A home at Santa Barbara's $1.72M median listing runs about $9,419 a month in principal and interest — 20% down on a 30-year fixed loan at the current 7.28% national average rate. Taxes, insurance and HOA are extra.
If rates fall 1% · 6.28%
$8,503/mo
−$916/mo vs today
At today's rate · 7.28%
$9,419/mo
National weekly average
If rates rise 1% · 8.28%
$10,371/mo
+$952/mo vs today
Principal & interest on the $1.72M median listing with 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan — excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Current rate: 7.28% (national weekly average, 2026-10-01). Model a full deal in the deal analyzer.
How much income do you need to buy a home in Santa Barbara?
To buy Santa Barbara’s $1.72M median listing with 20% down, a household needs about $444,000 a year in gross income, keeping principal, interest and property tax ($10,365/mo) at 28% of income. That is 4.6× the area’s $95,977 median household income, so a typical Santa Barbara household cannot afford the median listing on these terms.
| Item | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Median listing price | $1.72M | September 2026 |
| Down payment (20%) | $344,150 | Assumption |
| Principal & interest (7.28%, 30-yr fixed) | $9,419/mo | Rate as of 2026-10-01 |
| Property tax (0.66% effective rate) | $946/mo | Census ACS |
| Income needed (28% rule) | $444,000 | Gross household income / yr |
| Median household income | $95,977 | Census ACS 2023 ACS 5-year |
Excludes homeowners insurance, HOA dues and mortgage insurance, so the true income needed is higher. Compare every market in the income-needed ranking and the price-to-income ranking.
What is driving the Santa Barbara housing market?
Longer-run demand in Santa Barbara shows up in 1,397 homes permitted in 2025; net migration of -3,510 residents; +1.5% job growth. Natural-hazard risk rates Relatively High. These federal supply-pipeline, migration and jobs signals shape where prices head next.
Building permits (2025)
1,397
▲ 94.3% vs 2024
3.1 per 1,000 residents
Net migration (2022–2023)
-3,510
▼ people, via tax-return records
net income flow +$59.6M/yr
Job growth (YoY)
+1.5%
▲ 188.4k nonfarm jobs · August 2026
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
National hazard index · top hazard: Earthquake
Based on public government records — building-permit, tax-return migration, employment and natural-hazard statistics, aggregated to the metro. Details on /methodology.
What is the latest Santa Barbara real estate news?
Understanding Today’s Santa Barbara Housing MarketThe Santa Barbara Independent · 2026-04-30→Los Angeles housing indicatorsfirsttuesday Journal · 2026-06-24→Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo Rank Among America's Top ‘Pure Luxury’ Housing Markets, Study Findsedhat · 2026-04-13→California Home Sales Hit 8-Month High—These Counties Came Out on TopRealtor.com · 2025-12-02→
Recent headlines suggest Santa Barbara's housing market is considered "pure luxury," with some indicators showing an understanding of its current state. — AI-generated summary of the headlines above; read the linked coverage before relying on it.
Headlines collected 2026-07-05; each links to the original publisher.
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Median price, pace and inventory for 10 Santa Barbara ZIPs — the spread behind the metro number.
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The highest-producing real estate agents in Santa Barbara, ranked by recent sales.
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ReadSanta Barbara housing market FAQ
What is the median home price in Santa Barbara?
As of September 2026, the median listing price in Santa Barbara, CA is $1.72M, down 8.9% year over year (source: public records and industry data).
How much does it cost to buy a home in Santa Barbara?
The median home listed in Santa Barbara asks $1.72M as of September 2026. With 20% down on a 30-year fixed loan at the current 7.28% national average rate, that runs about $9,419 a month in principal and interest, before taxes, insurance and HOA.
How fast are homes selling in Santa Barbara?
The median property in Santa Barbara spends 58 days on the market, with 718 homes actively listed and 16% of them carrying a price cut — a balanced market as of September 2026.
Is it a buyer's or seller's market in Santa Barbara?
With a median 58 days on market and 16% of active listings carrying a price cut, pending contracts at 33% of active listings, Santa Barbara reads as a balanced market as of September 2026. Lean is based on days-on-market pace when closed-sale ratios are unavailable. Conditions shift monthly.
Is Santa Barbara a good place to invest in real estate?
Santa Barbara scores 44/100 on WealthyBud's Investor Score, ranking #574 of 933 covered U.S. metros as of September 2026. The score blends price momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market heat. It is a data-derived research opinion, not investment advice.
Who are the top real estate agents in Santa Barbara?
See WealthyBud directories for the top-producing agents, teams and brokerages serving Santa Barbara and the wider California market, ranked by recent sales from public profile data.
Based on public records and industry data, September 2026 — see our methodology for how every figure is computed. Figures change monthly — verify current conditions with a local agent or MLS. Portions of market data courtesy of Realtor.com and Redfin; additional statistics from U.S. government sources.
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