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Kieron Bery
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Monthly Market Snapshot - Santa Cruz & Monterey Counties, October 2026

· 6 min read · By Kieron Bery, REALTOR® with Century 21 Masters
Santa Cruz County coastline along Monterey Bay on a clear day, with a breaking wave in the foreground, a sailboat, and a pier in the distance

This is the October 2026 Monthly Market Snapshot for Santa Cruz County and Monterey County. It covers the three numbers buyers and sellers ask about most: the median sale price, the average time homes spend on the market, and the level of active inventory, plus how each changed from the previous month. Every figure below is drawn from a named public source with its data date, and where a number is not yet available for a period, I say so rather than guess.

My name is Kieron Bery, and I have been helping buyers and sellers across these coastal communities for more than 12 years as a REALTOR and Pricing Strategy Advisor with Century 21 Masters. I grew up here, I know these neighborhoods from the inside out, and I want you to make informed decisions. Here is where the market actually stands this month.

Santa Cruz County: Monthly Market Snapshot

The figures below are for single-family residences and come from the Santa Cruz County Association of REALTORS (SCCAR) countywide market statistics. The most recent closed data is for August 2026; July 2026 is used for the month-over-month comparison. Figures vary by source and by measure, so I note the alternative where it differs.

  • Median sale price (August 2026): approximately $1,380,000, up about 0.4% from $1,375,000 in July 2026, per SCCAR. An independent August 2026 report put the countywide median near $1,350,000, so the honest read is that prices are essentially flat month over month.
  • Average days on market (August 2026): about 48 days, up from roughly 45 days in July, per SCCAR. Homes are selling at a steady, deliberate pace.
  • Active inventory (August 2026): about 438 active single-family listings, down slightly from roughly 444 in July, per SCCAR. Supply remains well above the extreme lows of a few years ago.
  • Homes sold (August 2026): about 131 single-family homes closed, down from roughly 137 in July, per SCCAR.

Source: Santa Cruz County Association of REALTORS (SCCAR) countywide market statistics, single-family residences, data for August 2026 (latest closed data), compared with July 2026. An independent August 2026 report (Connie Landes) shows a slightly different cut, with a median near $1,350,000, about 342 active listings, and about 39 average days on market.

Monterey County: Monthly Market Snapshot

The figures below come from MLSListings market statistics and the Monterey County Real Estate Report (Information Designs, MLS data). The most recent closed data is for September 2026; August 2026 is used for the month-over-month comparison. Note that the September snapshot reports median days on market, while the August report reports average days on market, so the two are not directly comparable.

  • Median sale price (September 2026): approximately $915,000, up about 2.8% from $890,000 in August 2026, per the MLSListings September snapshot. The August report showed the median at $890,000, down from $963,000 in July, so single-month figures swing on a narrow set of sales and should be read as volatile, not as a trend.
  • Median days on market (September 2026): about 26 days, per the MLSListings snapshot. For context, the August report put average days on market at about 51, so well-priced homes are moving quickly.
  • Active inventory (September 2026): about 452 active listings, up from roughly 425 in August, per MLSListings. That works out to roughly 2.6 months of supply.
  • Homes sold (September 2026): about 173 homes closed, up from roughly 161 in August, per MLSListings.

Source: MLSListings market statistics for Monterey County, data for September 2026 (latest closed data), compared with the Monterey County Real Estate Report (Information Designs, MLS data) for August 2026.

What This Means for Buyers

In Santa Cruz County, the picture is one of balance. Prices are essentially flat month over month, inventory is steady at multi-year highs, and homes are averaging about seven weeks on the market, so you have genuine choices and time to compare properties, run inspections, and make offers with thought behind them. The trade-off is affordability: prices remain among the highest in coastal California, so being pre-approved and knowing your priorities is still your edge.

In Monterey County, the median ticked up in September and well-priced homes continue to move quickly, with a lean supply of about 2.6 months. That means being ready to act matters: have your financing lined up and your must-haves clear, because the homes that are priced well do not sit. If you are flexible on location, communities across the county offer more value per dollar than Santa Cruz County.

What This Means for Sellers

In Santa Cruz County, prices remain near record highs and homes still sell at or very near asking, but buyers are more discerning and have more choices, with days on market up and sales volume down from a year ago. The homes that sell quickly and at strong prices are priced correctly from day one and presented beautifully. As a Pricing Strategy Advisor, I help sellers find that sweet spot, because starting too high risks letting the home sit while starting too low leaves money on the table.

In Monterey County, well-priced homes still move fast, with a quick pace for the right listing. Preparation and realistic pricing are not optional right now; they are what separate a smooth sale from a stale listing. Let us talk about what your home is worth and how to position it for the best possible outcome.

Sources and Data Dates

This snapshot uses only named, public sources. The Santa Cruz County figures are from the Santa Cruz County Association of REALTORS (SCCAR) countywide market statistics, single-family residences, for August 2026 (the most recent month with closed data), compared with July 2026. The Monterey County figures are from MLSListings market statistics for September 2026 (the most recent month with closed data), compared with the Monterey County Real Estate Report (Information Designs, MLS data) for August 2026. Where the sources differ or a figure is not yet available, I have said so rather than guessing.

Figures in this snapshot are countywide and may not reflect your specific neighborhood or property type. For a market analysis tailored to your home and block, I am happy to help. I am a REALTOR and Pricing Strategy Advisor with Century 21 Masters, and I want you to make informed decisions.

Fair Housing

I am committed to the principles of the Fair Housing Act and to equal professional service for every buyer and seller, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. Market data is reported as-is and is intended to inform, not to steer. Every client receives the same honest, capable service.

Whether you are ready to make a move or just beginning to explore your options, I am here to help. Give me a call at (831) 247-5719, send me a message, or stop by the Century 21 Masters office in Aptos. I would love to hear your story.

Talk soon.

Kieron Bery
REALTOR, Pricing Strategy Advisor
Century 21 Masters
(831) 247-5719 | Contact Kieron

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