Market Insights
Monthly real estate market report for Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Solano counties
Current Market Conditions
More inventory, slower sales, price reductions
Supply meets demand, stable pricing
Low inventory, quick sales, rising prices
March 2026 Market Report
Data Publication Notice: Monthly market statistics are compiled and released by the California Association of REALTORS® approximately 3–4 weeks after the close of the reported month. As a result, the most recently available data is typically one month behind the current date. This report reflects the latest officially published figures.
County Comparison
Year-over-year performance metrics across the tri-county region
Sacramento
CountyMedian Price
Sales Change
+7.1%Days on Market
20Inventory Supply
2.1 monthsSan Joaquin
CountyMedian Price
Sales Change
+4.7%Days on Market
31Inventory Supply
3 monthsSolano
CountyMedian Price
Sales Change
+16.8%Days on Market
40Inventory Supply
2 monthsMedian Time on Market
The median is the middle value when all listings are ranked by days on market—half sold faster, half sold slower.
Sacramento County
San Joaquin County
Solano County
Regional Trends
March 2026 data marks a notable shift for the tri-county region: all three counties posted year-over-year sales gains simultaneously for the first time in recent months. Sacramento County continues to lead the region with 861 closed transactions—a 7.1% year-over-year increase—while its median price edged down just 1.8% to $550,000. San Joaquin County emerged as the region's pricing bright spot, with its median price rising 1.8% year-over-year to $560,000 on 376 sales (+4.7%). Solano County posted the most dramatic sales rebound at +16.8% year-over-year with 320 transactions, though its median price slipped 2.4% to $580,000—still the region's highest median.
Market velocity reflects each county's competitive intensity. Sacramento is the fastest market in the region at just 20 median days on market with an estimated 2.1 months of supply, and homes are selling at exactly 100.0% of list price. San Joaquin has tightened considerably from February's 44-day pace to 31 median days, with an estimated 3.0 months of supply and a near-perfect 99.9% sales-to-list ratio. Solano, despite its strong sales rebound, remains the slowest of the three at 40 median days and approximately 2.0 months of supply— though its 100.0% sales-to-list price ratio confirms that well-priced homes are still commanding full asking prices. Elevated price reduction rates across all three counties (32–38% of active listings) signal that sellers must price strategically from the start, but those who do are consistently receiving full offers.
Key Takeaways
- All three counties show positive sales growth simultaneously — Sacramento +7.1%, San Joaquin +4.7%, Solano +16.8% year-over-year
- Sales-to-list ratios at or near 100% across all three counties — well-priced homes are still selling for full asking price despite elevated price reduction activity
- Sacramento is the region's fastest market at just 20 median days on market with ~2.1 months of supply and 861 closed sales
- San Joaquin is the only county with rising prices (+1.8% YoY to $560K) and has tightened from 44 to 31 median days since February
The California Narrative vs. Local Reality
Headlines declaring California's housing market is in freefall draw from statewide and coastal data that tells a very different story than what's actually happening across Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Solano counties.
California as a Whole
$823K
Statewide median home price — a 23-month low as of January 2026, down from $839K year-over-year
40+
Consecutive months statewide sales volume has remained below 300,000 annualized units
−24%
Statewide transaction volume below pre-Great Recession levels across the 2023–2025 period
March 2026 Reality
3 of 3
Counties posting simultaneous year-over-year sales gains — Sacramento +7.1%, San Joaquin +4.7%, Solano +16.8%
100%
Sales-to-list price ratio in Sacramento and Solano — correctly priced homes are still commanding full asking price
20 days
Sacramento median days on market — among the fastest-moving sub-markets in the state, far from any crash scenario
Why the Disconnect Exists
Coastal Markets Dominate Headlines
The statewide median of $823K is heavily skewed by Bay Area and SoCal properties — far above local medians of $550K–$580K. Los Angeles and San Francisco data moves statewide averages in ways that simply don't reflect inland conditions.
The Coastal Rate Lock-In Effect
Roughly 80% of California mortgage holders carry rates below 5%, freezing inventory and buyer activity — an effect felt most acutely in high-cost coastal markets, not in inland regions where affordability and in-migration continue to drive demand.
Inland Markets Consistently Outperform
Sacramento and the broader Central Valley benefit from relative affordability, steady in-migration from pricier metros, and lower exposure to the rate sensitivity that plagues luxury coastal markets — structural advantages that persist regardless of statewide headlines.
This Isn't a Crash — It's a Freeze
Experts broadly agree there is no 2008-style collapse underway in California. What's happening is a structural volume freeze driven by rate lock-in and affordability strain — prices aren't collapsing, especially inland. And the forecasts for the region are decidedly optimistic.
3–4%
Projected statewide home price growth for 2026 — C.A.R. and Zillow consensus forecast
+11%
Forecasted 2026 sales rebound for Sacramento specifically — March's +7.1% YoY gain is already on track
‹2.1 mo
Sacramento inventory supply — a seller's market threshold that historically precedes sustained price appreciation
In short, broad “California is crashing” articles are not wrong about the state as a whole — but the tri-county region is among those actively bucking that trend.
Months of Inventory
A balanced market typically has 4-6 months of inventory. Below that favors sellers, above favors buyers.
Sacramento
San Joaquin
Solano
Months of inventory is an estimate calculated by dividing active listings by the current month's sales volume. Official months of supply figures are not reported in this data set.
What Does This Mean for You?
Market data tells part of the story, but every buyer and seller situation is unique. Let's discuss how current conditions affect your specific goals and timeline.
Disclaimer: The market data, statistics, analysis, and commentary presented on this page are compiled from publicly available sources, including reports published by the California Association of REALTORS®, and are provided for general informational purposes only. This information is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or current. All figures are subject to revision. Nothing on this page constitutes financial, investment, legal, or real estate advice of any kind, and should not be relied upon as such. Past market performance is not indicative of future results. Individual property values, market conditions, and outcomes may vary significantly. You should consult a licensed real estate professional, financial advisor, or other qualified expert before making any real estate or investment decisions. Christine Perkins makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and expressly disclaims any liability for errors, omissions, or reliance upon any content herein.