We analyze thousands of real estate agents in Santa Cruz County and nationwide to find you proven local professionals, for free.
Agent Pronto analyzes transaction data, agent specialties, and client reviews to handpick the best agents in your area. Updated for November 2026.*
*Sales data is calculated based on transaction information available to Agent Pronto at the time of publishing and may not accurately reflect all transactions for a given agent.
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Information and statistics on the latest trends in the Santa Cruz County real estate market. *
September 2026
Monthly data for the latest available year.
Monthly supply and activity totals for the latest available year.
Market gauge is calculated using active listings and pending sales from the most recently available reporting period (Sep 2026).
Santa Cruz County home values in September 2026 were down from a year ago, with the typical sale price slipping about 8 percent. At the same time, inventory expanded, as months of supply climbed nearly 60 percent year over year to 3.4 months. Homes sold fell more than 11 percent compared with last September, even as active listings and new listings both posted modest annual gains.
Looking more closely at the latest month, prices and activity showed some sharp month-to-month shifts. The median sale price dropped more than 12 percent from August, yet homes sold rose nearly 12 percent and new listings also increased, suggesting buyers and sellers are still engaging despite price adjustments.
Conditions lean toward sellers overall, with the area rated a seller’s market and about 26 percent of homes closing above list price, though that share is slightly lower than last year. Homes are taking longer to go under contract than a month ago, as median days on market climbed to 33, but roughly 30 percent of listings still go off the market within two weeks. Compared with California as a whole, Santa Cruz County remains a higher-priced market, with typical sale prices well above the state median and inventory slightly tighter than the statewide level of 3.6 months. Buyers and sellers who want to navigate these mixed signals can turn to Agent Pronto to connect with a local agent who understands the current dynamics.
Santa Cruz County offers residents a compelling blend of coastal beauty, redwood forests, outdoor recreation, and a tight-knit, innovative community with vibrant arts, education, and local agriculture.
Santa Cruz County offers a distinctly relaxed coastal lifestyle that feels different from nearby Silicon Valley hubs like San Jose or the East Bay. Here, daily life often revolves around the shoreline, redwood-covered hills, and close-knit neighborhoods where it is common to run into the same faces at the farmers market or on local trails.
In the city of Santa Cruz, the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and steady surf culture meet a busy downtown filled with independent shops and cafes. To the south, Capitola offers colorful beachfront streets and family-friendly events, while Aptos and Soquel blend village centers with wooded neighborhoods. Inland, Scotts Valley and Felton appeal to residents who want quick access to both the redwoods and commuter routes.
Outdoor life is a major draw, from hiking in Wilder Ranch State Park to exploring the cliffs and beaches of Seacliff State Beach. Families value strong local schools and community programs supported by Santa Cruz County Parks.
The market here can move quickly, with coastal homes, student housing near UC Santa Cruz, and quieter mountain properties each following their own trends. Whether you are planning a first purchase, moving up, or preparing to sell in a competitive season, partnering with the right local agent is essential. Agent Pronto connects buyers and sellers with professionals who understand Santa Cruz County’s timing, pricing, and neighborhood nuances.
See why so many people rely on Agent Pronto to make their real estate journey a success.
“My husband and I relocated from Southern California. We really lucked out when we found Jennifer Gates! She was very polite, friendly, and extremely professional. Her knowledge of the area and her great & timely communication skills were truly assets. I always felt very important. She went above and beyond to help us acquire our dream home overlooking the ocean. Jennifer made us feel like a valued client. I highly recommend her as a realtor.”
“I met Alicia at an open house, and she was friendly and approachable from the start. She took the time to show me around, answer my questions, and offer helpful suggestions on what to look for in a home. I appreciated her insight and how comfortable she made the whole experience. I’d definitely recommend reaching out to her!”
“Payal is a good person, very supportive and communicative. She always makes time to interact and showed me many places before I found "the one", and I wouldn't have found it without her. She is knowledgeable and trustworthy.”
“I worked with Megan twice: first when I bought my home, and again six years later when I sold it. Both times she was outstanding. When I was buying, Megan asked a lot of thoughtful questions to understand what I actually needed and wanted, and she came with me to every showing. She paid attention to how I felt about each house we saw and based her recommendations on my reactions, which helped us zero in on the right place. She also suggested areas I hadn’t considered and was incredibly informative about the different builders and neighborhoods, which helped me feel confident in my decision. When a relocation meant I had to sell, I wasn’t going to be in the area to handle the details. Megan took care of everything for me, from start to finish. She arranged the inspection, the stager, and the cleaners, so I didn’t have to coordinate any of it from a distance. When an incident the day before closing required a repair, she handled that too. My house sold in just 6 days, and we received a little more than the asking price. I can’t recommend Megan highly enough. If you want a realtor who is knowledgeable, attentive, and truly looks out for you, she’s the one to call.”
“Jessie did very good job at showing us the house around San Francisco and San Mateo County. She gave us very professional and honest advice on the home we were looking for. She went through the inspection, pointed out what we need to consider, and helped us draft a strong offer to secure our current home. Thanks to her, we have our first lovely home. Even after securing our home, Jessie went the extra mile to ensure we would be able to comfortably settle in. We would highly recommend Jessie to any homebuyers who need help in Bay Area.”
“I met Sue by chance and struck up a conversation with her about current real estate market trends. I was impressed by her knowledge of national trends and, more importantly, how those trends translated to the Orange County market. I was particularly interested in local statistics for my neighborhood, as I was considering purchasing a property for a family member who could live within walking distance. Just a few weeks later, a listing came on the market in my neighborhood that checked all the boxes. Inventory in the neighborhood was limited, and this particular property was a rare single-story floor plan—the last one had sold four years earlier. I immediately reached out to Sue and her partner, Erin, and they quickly put together a plan of action. All I can say is that experience matters. What impressed me most was their negotiation strategy, which positioned us to submit the strongest possible offer. With five offers on the property, we ultimately won the bid. Throughout the transaction, every deadline was met, and there were no surprises. In fact, we were able to close ahead of schedule. Sue and Erin also have a strong network of service providers, which is a valuable resource if you need recommendations or additional support along the way. Overall, the entire process was smooth, seamless, and highly professional. I truly appreciated their market knowledge, strategic approach, and attention to detail. I highly recommend Sue and Erin to anyone looking for knowledgeable, experienced, and professional real estate agents.”
“We had a great experience working with Tammie! She has helped us buy and sell homes over the years, and we truly appreciate her support. She is knowledgeable, patient, honest, and always available to answer our questions. She genuinely cares about her clients and makes the entire process smooth and stress-free. We highly recommend Tammie!”
“Max was instrumental in selling our home because of his knowledge and experience of real estate. He was very informative and available to answer all our questions. He kept us up to date with every potential client/buyer walk through. He paid very good attention in details to help sell the house and with the sellers contract. We are very pleased with the outcome.”
“Mark was brilliant! We got connected by chance but I couldn’t be happier with the relationship. Mark has incredible knowledge of the area and endless useful information gained from living and working here. Mark was a wealth of advice as well, never pushy but always had great insights when we needed it. He was very considerate and available for questions and site visits, because of this, he made our search an easy journey and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have found our home. Thanks Mark,”
“When I decided too sell my home I explored the idea of listing it myself since homes in my neighborhood tend to sell easily and fast. After meeting with 3 different realty groups I decided to go with Samples Realty Group not wanting to deal with everything involved in selling it myself. I made the right choice. Michelle and David were very professional and helpful from signing the listing agreement to passing on the keys to the buyer. I was already in process of driving to my new home across the country when the listing started. They were very helpful in dealing with any issues that came up and helped keep the place in top showing condition. We decided that staging the home was the best thing to do and it proved to be the case. Their stager was excellent and it really brightened the home and showed off it's possibilities. In the end, I sold in a week and at a very attractive price. I highly recommend you consider Michelle and David.”
“We interviewed seven agents before selecting Jim Tierney, and we’re very glad we chose him. His experience, strong knowledge of the local market, and reasonable commission stood out from the beginning. Jim and his team were excellent to work with and made the entire process feel very smooth and well organized. He was responsive, practical, and kept us well informed from preparation through closing. We were very happy with both his service and the final result and would highly recommend him.”
“I give Linnette and her team the highest recommendation possible. If you miss out on working with her, you're making a mistake. I originally met her when buying my home in North Oakand 10 years ago, and she was excellent. During Covid, I left the area, and in 2026 I made the decision to sell. It was a no-brainer to go back to Linnette. I am across the country, and she managed the entire process with no hassle for me. Took care of specs, comps, price modeling, recommended renovations, affordable contractor, etc. She and her team were in great touch throughout. I trusted her opinions, and she got me a wild number of bids and an incredible purchase price. Everything went off without a hitch. I would definitely work with her again. Thanks, Team Linnette!”
“Graeham Watts and his team are absolutely incredible. He recently marketed and sold my home in East Palo Alto, and I couldn't be happier with how everything went.From start to finish, Graeham and his team took care of literally everything. I didn't have to worry about a thing because they handled all the disclosures and coordinated directly with contractors to get the house ready. Their execution was flawless, and they kept everything moving forward without any stress on my end. Graeham's deep understanding of the East Palo Alto housing market was evident in how beautifully he positioned and marketed the property. If you want a real estate team that handles all the heavy lifting and actually delivers on their promises, look no further. I highly recommend Graeham and his team!”
“We had a wonderful experience working with Ron Laserna! He truly listened to what we wanted, was always quick to respond, and gave us honest, knowledgeable advice throughout the process. Thanks to his hard work, we found our dream home. We highly recommend Ron to anyone buying or selling a home!”
“We had a wonderful experience working with Adan to buy our home in the Bay Area. Right from the beginning, it was clear that he had our back and was genuinely committed to representing us. As first-time buyers, we had a lot of questions, but Adan answered every single question with patience, kindness, and incredible knowledge. He made the showing process fun and stress-free, and his communication was always seamless. Adan is an amazing realtor, and we are so grateful for his support. We would recommend him in a heartbeat!”
“When I was interested in selling my home, I started reading reviews of realtors. Nick Flageollet reviews were very positive. After speaking with him I found him to be very responsive, if Nick didn’t answer my phone calls he would return my calls soon afterwards. He would provide answers to all my questions During the selling process of my first home a buyers agent asked me how I met Nick, the buyers agent expressed all positive remarks about Nick. Nick was very patient with me due to my delay on getting my homes ready for him to put onto the market. When I was ready to sell Nick immediately went into action. He provided a great marketing strategy and kept me informed during the whole process I was so impressed with Nick’s real estate skills i contacted him for selling my second home that sold in 12 days with an offer more than listing price”
“Matt was excellent his greatest attribute is that he listened to our needs and wants and accommodated us in delivering the best service possible. We quickly sold our home and were able to move on to the next step in our home ownership journey. We would recommend Matt to anybody looking for an agent who is attentive and puts the customer first through the entire process.”
“She is a strategic planner, and can get the job done under challenging circumstances. She was our seller agent and sold our house at a price beyond our expectations with multiple offers. We can’t ask for more. We highly recommend Mattie to everyone who wants to buy or sell their house”
“I had a great experience working with Eric while selling my home. He was incredibly patient, thorough, and always took the time to explain everything and answer all of my questions. He made what could have been a stressful process feel simple and manageable from start to finish. I really appreciated his professionalism, communication, and guidance throughout the entire process. I’m grateful for all of his help and would definitely recommend him to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. I look forward to working with him again when it’s time for us to purchase our next home! Seriously 10/10 experience!”
“Mike and Travis did an incredible job with every aspect of selling my home. Their expertise, communication, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence made the process smooth and successful from beginning to end. I felt comfortable and confident that I was in great hands the minute I met them. Speaking of hands, they are not afraid to get their hand dirty. I highly recommend Mike and Travis Real Estate Group to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. Five stars all the way! *****”
There are more than 2 million real estate agents across the U.S., and you want to be sure the one you partner with is an experienced and trustworthy professional with strong local expertise covering the housing market in and around Santa Cruz County. Working with a proven agent will help you sell your home faster and for more money, and help you find your dream home at the best possible price.
Choosing a real estate agent to help you buy or sell property is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your lifetime. You want to make sure your agent is an expert in your area, has a proven record helping people buy and sell similar homes to yours, and is well regarded by their previous clients. Let us know a few details about the property you are selling or the kind of home you want to buy, and Agent Pronto will match you with trusted real estate agents that have the experience you need. And before you interview an agent, check out our top five questions to ask a buyer’s agent and listing agent.
We consider performance metrics, close rates, specialties, and client reviews to qualify the best full-time agents. We then take the information you provide about the home you are selling or the kind of home you want to buy, and analyze the top local agents with the right experience for your specific needs. For more than a decade, we've helped hundreds of thousands of home buyers and sellers find the right agent. Get started now and find the perfect real estate agent.
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