Santa Cruz County Market Stats
Published
I track Santa Cruz County market conditions every week. The numbers below come from Altos Research for the week ending July 20, 2026, the most current data available.
Data from Altos Research, week ending July 20, 2026. Single-family homes. Sponsored by Padraic Collins, Stewart Title. Data deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Contact me for neighborhood-specific breakdowns.
What the numbers mean
Santa Cruz Median List Price Holds at $1,498,000. Inventory Climbs to 402
The Santa Cruz County median list price is $1,498,000 this week, in line with the $1,497,500 to $1,525,000 band that has held since mid-June. Active single-family inventory rose to 402, up from 388 two weeks ago and past the June 15 mark of 396. That is the most choice buyers have had all summer.
A third of active listings carry a price cut, 33% this week, steady with the low 30s since May. Sellers who price to today’s comps still find a buyer. The added supply gives shoppers more to weigh and a little room to negotiate on homes that have sat.
Market Action Index Eases to 38. Sellers Still Hold the Edge
The Market Action Index reads 38 for Santa Cruz County. Altos counts anything above 30 as a seller’s market and anything below as a buyer’s market. At 38 the county sits in seller territory, one point under last month’s 39.
The index weighs how fast homes sell against how much supply is on the market. Santa Cruz held at 39 through June and slipped to 38 this week. That is a small step, not a turn. A drop toward 30 would be the reading worth watching, since that is where the balance tips to buyers.
Median Days on Market Rises to 63
Median days on market for active Santa Cruz County listings is 63, up from 56 through late June and early July. This counts everything for sale right now, not the homes that already closed.
A well-priced home in a strong location still goes under contract inside two weeks. The 63-day figure gets pulled up by listings that are stale or set above what the comps support. If a home has been up more than a month with no offer, the price is the first place to look.