Santa Barbara South County MLS Statistics For August 2025
Real Estate Market Update
Here are the SB MLS Statistics for August 2025: https://sbaor.org/clientuploads/2025/Stats/August_2025_stats.pdf
Santa Barbara’s real estate market in August showed signs of balance, with more homes and condos available while buyer demand remained steady. The numbers suggest a market that is no longer moving at last year’s breakneck pace, but instead finding equilibrium as supply catches up to demand.
Home Estates & PUDs
The single-family market posted a stronger month than last year, with 84 sales versus 77 in August 2024. The median price rose to $2,264,500, while the average price dipped to $3.1 million from $4.6 million. This reflects fewer ultra-luxury closings and more mid-range activity, a healthier signal for overall stability. Homes also took slightly longer to sell — averaging 46 days on market — as buyers had more options to consider.
To highlight the broader shifts, here are the most telling data points:
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Sold properties year-to-date are up 14.4%
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Median prices have increased nearly 10% in 2025
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Active listings reached 914, up 13% from last year
This mix of rising sales, higher prices, and expanded inventory points to a market where buyers have more choice without significantly weakening seller leverage.
Condos
The condo sector slowed in August, with only 22 units sold compared to 34 last year, and the median price slipped to $884,950 from just over $1 million. While that might suggest a cooling, the year-to-date data paints a stronger picture:
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Sales are up 9% compared to 2024
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Median condo prices have risen 4.7%
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Overall, condo sales volume has surged 22.5%
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Active listings climbed to 293, a 26% increase year-over-year
These trends show that while August closings were lower, the broader condo market remains solid, supported by earlier gains in 2025 and sustained buyer activity.
Turning Market Trends Into Opportunities
An expanding pool of listings is giving the market more balance, creating breathing room and easing the urgency that characterized past seasons. This shift primarily benefits buyers, who can now take a bit more time to evaluate options, though well-priced properties continue to move quickly.
With this added inventory, sellers need to be more strategic. Homes and condos that match market value are still closing close to list price — averaging 97% for Home Estates & PUDs and 97.6% for condos — while overpriced listings tend to linger.
Meanwhile, steady growth in both sectors offers reassurance to investors. Nearly $2.2 billion in Home Estate and PUD sales volume and a 22.5% increase in condo sales volume underscore Santa Barbara’s strength as a stable, long-term market with opportunities ranging from luxury estates to income-producing condos.
Santa Barbara South County Home Estates, and PUD Active Listings for the Last 12 Months
Santa Barbara South County Number of Homes, Estates, and PUDs Sales Year-to-Date 2008 to 2025
Santa Barbara South County Homes, Estates, and PUD Sales - Year-to-Date 2008 to 2025
Santa Barbara South County Homes, Estates, and PUD Sales - Month by Month
Santa Barbara South County Home, Estates, and PUD Median Sales Price - Month by Month
Guidance Brings Clarity to Every Market Shift
Market reports are packed with valuable information, but making sense of the numbers is just as important as having them. At Locale Group | Compass, we help our clients interpret these trends and understand how they translate into real opportunities.
Request your copy of the Santa Barbara Market Report, featuring detailed monthly and year-to-date statistics for Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Hope Ranch, and we’ll guide you through the insights that matter most.
Start the conversation with us today.
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