North Bay Housing Market Trends

The Local Lowdown

Quick Take:

• Single-family home prices surged in Marin and Napa Counties, rising 19.86% and 18.75% year-over-year, while Sonoma and Solano Counties saw slight price declines.

• Inventory has dropped sharply across the North Bay, with single-family home supply down 45.19% and condo inventory down 36.60% compared to last year.

• Homes are spending more time on the market in several counties, particularly in Sonoma, where single-family homes are taking significantly longer to sell than they did last January.

Note: You can find the charts and graphs for the Local Lowdown at the end of this section.

Marin and Napa lead a strong start to the year

The North Bay housing market kicked off 2026 with notable price growth in several counties, particularly in the single-family home segment.

Marin County saw the strongest gains, with the median single-family home selling for $1,750,000, a 19.86% increase year-over-year. Napa County followed closely behind, where the median single-family home reached $1,045,000, marking an 18.75% increase compared to last January.

Other counties saw more modest performance. Sonoma County experienced a slight decline in single-family home prices, down 2.26% year-over-year, while Solano County remained relatively flat with a 0.13% decrease.

The condo market presented a mixed picture. Sonoma County condos rose 10.71% year-over-year, while Napa County saw an even stronger gain of 13.90%. Marin County condos also posted a modest increase of 4.98%. However, Solano County condos saw a significant decline, dropping 37.34% year-over-year.

These varied results highlight the localized nature of the North Bay market, where pricing trends can differ meaningfully from one county to the next.

Inventory levels remain extremely tight

One of the most notable trends across the North Bay is the sharp drop in available inventory.

Currently, single-family home inventory sits at just 1,494 units, representing a 45.19% decrease compared to January of last year. Condo inventory has also declined significantly, with just 220 units available, down 36.60% year-over-year.

The good news is that new listings are beginning to pick up following the holiday slowdown. Single-family home listings increased 70.50% month-over-month, while condo listings jumped 102.33% month-over-month.

However, even with this recent uptick, the number of new listings remains well below last year’s levels—down 43.76% for single-family homes and 38.30% for condos year-over-year.

Until more sellers enter the market, buyers will likely continue to face limited inventory and strong competition for desirable properties.

Buyers are taking more time to make decisions

Despite tight inventory conditions, homes in some North Bay markets are taking longer to sell.

In Sonoma County, the average single-family home spent 65 days on the market, representing a 44.44% increase compared to last year. Marin County homes averaged 61 days on market, a slight 1.67% year-over-year increase, while Solano County homes averaged 51 days, up 4.08% from last year.

Interestingly, Napa County saw a slight improvement, with homes selling a bit faster—down 1.59% year-over-year to 62 days on market.

The condo market shows even more variation. Sonoma County condos are spending 44.68% more time on the market, and Solano County condos are taking 47.37% longer to sell. Meanwhile, Marin and Napa County condos are actually moving faster, with days on market declining 24.56% and 56.29% year-over-year, respectively.

The North Bay shifts further into seller’s market territory

To understand overall market conditions, we often look at Months of Supply Inventory (MSI). Historically, California averages around three months of inventory, which is considered a balanced market.

• Less than three months typically indicates a seller’s market

• More than three months generally suggests a buyer’s market

At the start of 2026, most North Bay markets have shifted firmly toward seller’s market conditions.

For single-family homes:

• Marin County: 1 month of inventory (down 68.75% year-over-year)

• Sonoma County: 1.6 months

• Solano County: 1.9 months

• Napa County: 3.8 months (a notable shift from stronger buyer conditions in 2025)

The condo market has also tightened:

• Marin County: 2 months of inventory

• Sonoma County: 2.3 months

• Napa County: 3.7 months

• Solano County: 3.6 months

While some areas are closer to balanced conditions, much of the region is trending toward stronger seller leverage as inventory remains limited.

Bottom Line

The North Bay housing market is starting 2026 with strong price growth in several counties, particularly in Marin and Napa, while other areas are seeing more stable or slightly softer conditions. Inventory remains extremely limited across the region, which continues to shape market dynamics.

For buyers, the combination of limited inventory and varying local trends means opportunities can differ significantly from county to county. For sellers, current conditions—especially in areas with very low supply—can provide a favorable window to bring a home to market.

As we move toward the spring season, the key factor to watch will be whether the recent increase in new listings continues—and whether it’s enough to ease the region’s inventory shortage.