Market report, Q3 2026
Median prices, days on market and inventory across our six neighborhoods, with what it means for buyers and sellers.
Headline figures
- Montecito median sale price
- $6.4M
- Median days on market
- 52
- Year-over-year change
- +6.8%
- Months of inventory
- 4.1
Sample figures for illustration only. Single-family homes, trailing twelve months.
Days on market by price band and season
The higher the band, the thinner the buyer pool and the more the calendar matters. An $18M estate listed in December waits roughly nine weeks longer than the same estate listed in April, and that wait shows up in the final list-to-sale ratio.
$2M to $4M
Winter costs 25 extra days
$4M to $8M
Winter costs 32 extra days
$8M to $15M
Winter costs 40 extra days
Above $15M
Winter costs 58 extra days
Median days from list to accepted offer, sample figures across 24 months of Santa Barbara County sales. Spring is March to May, winter is December to February.
The full table
| Neighborhood | Median price | Year over year | Median days on market | Months of inventory | Homes sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montecito | $6.4M | +6.8% | 52 | 4.1 | 38 |
| Hope Ranch | $5.1M | +4.2% | 61 | 5.3 | 14 |
| The Riviera | $3.6M | +5.1% | 38 | 2.9 | 27 |
| Summerland | $2.9M | +7.4% | 44 | 3.2 | 9 |
| Carpinteria and Padaro | $2.4M | +3.9% | 47 | 3.6 | 31 |
| The Mesa | $2.2M | +5.6% | 29 | 2.4 | 42 |
Swipe to see all columns
What we are seeing
Ava's commentary on the quarter, drawn from every closed and private sale in our neighborhoods.
Read the full analysisInventory is recovering, slowly
Active listings across our six neighborhoods rose 11% from a year ago, but remain well below 2019 levels. Well-prepared homes under $5M still sell quickly.
The top end is negotiating
Above $10M, buyers are taking their time. Sale-to-list ratios averaged 95.8%, and off-market sales made up nearly a third of closings.
Insurance shapes decisions
Buyers now request insurance quotes in the first days of escrow. Homes with fire-hardening upgrades and clear histories are selling at a premium.
Rates matter less here
About 58% of purchases over $3M closed with cash. Financed buyers are using jumbo and portfolio loans with rate buydowns (sample figures).