Southern California’s housing market is still stuck near recession-era lows.
Yet the downturn is hitting the region unevenly, with more affordable inland counties seeing the steepest sales declines. An analysis of home sales data from property data provider Attom found that transactions across the region remain well below historical norms, the Los Angeles Daily News reported.
The figures, which cover new and existing home and condominium sales, were analyzed through July 2026 against a 21-year average pace.
San Bernardino County has seen the sharpest pullback. Its July sales pace was 38 percent below normal and just 3 percent above its Great Recession low. The county’s median price reached $533,500, only 3 percent below its peak, while estimated monthly ownership costs climbed to $4,505, up 97 percent in five years. A typical buyer would also need about $53,000 for a down payment.
Riverside County followed closely, with the sales pace
Riverside County followed closely, with the sales pace 36 percent below historical norms and just 1 percent above its recession-era bottom. Its $605,000 median price was 2 percent below peak, while monthly ownership costs reached $5,109, up 93 percent in five years. A typical down payment now runs about $61,000.
The squeeze extends to coastal markets. San Diego County’s sales pace was 32 percent below normal, while Los Angeles and Ventura counties were each down 31 percent. Monthly ownership costs reached $7,769 in San Diego, $7,592 in Los Angeles and $7,166 in Ventura.
Orange County, the region’s most expensive market, has held up comparatively better. Its sales pace was 30 percent below normal, the smallest gap among the six counties, though still just 7 percent above its Great Recession low. The median price hit $1.2 million, with estimated monthly ownership costs soaring to $10,303, up 125 percent in five years. Buyers need roughly $122,000 down.
Across the region, the gap between owning and renting has become increasingly more noticeable. Typical rents were 45 to 69 percent below estimated monthly ownership costs, depending on the county.
