Santa Cruz Real Estate Market Update: Sales, Prices & Trends (Feb–July 2025)

Welcome to the coveted California Coast, where according to myperfecteather.com, we have the only swath of "comfortable weather" in the Country.

Add in the proximity to the ocean and Silicon Valley with the largest concentration of Venture Capital in the world, and it is no wonder why Santa Cruz remains one of the most expensive places to buy and/or rent in the Country. 

But that doesn't mean that it's strictly a seller's market....High rates along with global/financial/political uncertainty have affected buyer confidence; homes are talking more time to sell, and price reductions are common.

• 55% of all homes for sale this year had price reductions

 From February through July 2025 we saw: 

• 678 closed single-family sales countywide (monthly counts: 57, 93, 131, 125, 130, 142)
• Average days on market: 32 days (ranging from 45 in February to 29 in July)

The sale-to-list ratio for single-family homes hovered around 100% most months, reaching 100.7% in July. Meaning the “typical” sale was roughly at asking (some above, some below).

• Median price in July was $1.30M, up year-over-year, which aligns with a still-firm pricing environment despite more inventory. 

Highest Sale: 618 Beach Dr, Aptos, sold for $8,170,000 on Aug 11, 2025. 

Lowest Sale: 451 Lost Valley Rd, Boulder Creek, sold for $300,000 on Apr 29, 2025. 

Bottom Line: Inventory has risen versus last year which gives buyers more leverage and explains the high share of price cuts. But quick-ish DOM and a ~100% sale-to-list keep sellers competitive, especially for well-priced, move-in-ready homes in the beach-adjacent hot spots. All of which paints a picture of a fairly balanced market.

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