What Are the Current Home Values in Santa Monica?

Santa Monica Single Family Home Values from January 1, 2026 Through April 3, 2026

If you are asking, “What are the current home values in Santa Monica?”, the most useful answer comes from actual market evidence*, not generic county averages or national housing headlines. The findings reveal exactly what buyers are paying, what sellers are asking, and what both sides must understand to succeed in today’s market.

Santa Monica Housing Market Overview for Single Family Homes

From January 1, 2026 through April 3, 2026, the active and sold single family market in Santa Monica showed a clear pattern: demand remains strong, but buyers are highly disciplined. Homes that are priced and positioned correctly are moving quickly. Homes that miss the mark are far more likely to sit.

Active Single Family Listings in Santa Monica

Based on the active CMA report, Santa Monica had 37 active single family listings with an average list price of $5,949,703, a median list price of $3,475,000, an average home size of 3,371 square feet, an average list price per square foot of $1,738.55, and an average of 36 days on market. The active price range ran from $1,175,000 to $17,950,000.

Sold Single Family Homes in Santa Monica

The sold CMA report shows 45 closed single family sales with an average sale price of $3,686,604, a median sale price of $3,050,000, an average home size of 2,076 square feet, an average sale price per square foot of $1,796.10, an average of 27 days on market, and an average sale to list ratio of 102.72 percent. The sold price range ran from $980,000 to $15,700,000.

What Is the Current Median Home Value in Santa Monica?

On single family homes,  the most practical benchmark for current value is:

• Median active list price: $3,475,000
• Median sold price: $3,050,000

That spread matters.

It shows that while seller expectations remain ambitious, the market is ultimately deciding value through closed sales, not asking prices.

What Is the Average Price Per Square Foot in Santa Monica?

• Average active list price per square foot: $1,738.55
• Average sold price per square foot: $1,796.10

This is one of the most important insights in the entire analysis.

Even though the average active asking price is much higher than the average closed sale price, the average sold price per square foot is actually higher than the active list price per square foot. That suggests buyers are not just paying for size. They are paying a premium for the right homes: the ones with superior condition, light, floor plan, design, and location.

Key Findings from the Santa Monica CMA Reports

1. Santa Monica Is Still a Strong Market for Well Positioned Homes

The sold report shows an average sale to list ratio of 102.72 percent, meaning homes sold, on average, above asking price.

That is not the profile of a weak market.

It is the profile of a market where buyers are active, competitive, and willing to pay when the product is right.

2. Buyers Are Rewarding Precision, Not Overpricing

The active market had an average days on market of 36, while sold homes averaged 27 days on market.

That gap tells a clear story:
Homes that actually close are generally the ones that move faster. Homes that remain active are more likely to be overpriced, less compelling, or both.

3. Price Per Square Foot Matters More Than Sticker Price

Today’s Santa Monica buyers are not looking only at the purchase price. They are evaluating:

• price per square foot
• condition
• layout
• lot utility
• natural light
• walkability
• proximity to the beach, Montana Avenue, Ocean Park, or other desirable pockets

That is why a smaller, better executed home can outperform a larger but less compelling property.

4. The Market Is Segmented, Not Uniform

The active report ranges from $1.175 million to $17.95 million, while sold homes ranged from $980,000 to $15.7 million.

Santa Monica is not one market. It is a collection of micro markets. A cottage on a small lot, a remodeled Sunset Park home, a North of Montana traditional, and a trophy oceanfront property are not competing in the same lane.

What Santa Monica Home Buyers Must Know

Competition Is Real on the Right Homes

Several sales in the report closed materially over asking, including examples such as:

• 2408 Pier Ave selling at 138.35 percent of list price
• 2333 22nd St selling at 127.56 percent of list price
• 2517 24th St selling at 129.14 percent of list price
• 2016 Ashland Ave selling at 115.46 percent of list price
• 203 24th St selling at 113.37 percent of list price

This means buyers cannot assume Santa Monica sellers will negotiate meaningfully on the best inventory. When a home is priced correctly and checks the right boxes, the market often responds fast.

Speed and Preparation Matter

The sold report shows many homes trading in very short timeframes, often under two weeks.

Buyers need:

• clean financing
• sharp underwriting preparation
• fast decision making
• a strong pricing framework based on comparable sales, not emotion

In Santa Monica, hesitation can easily cost the property.

Not Every Listing Is a Great Buy

The active inventory also shows there are properties sitting materially longer, including listings with 50 plus or 60 plus days on market.

That often creates opportunity for buyers, especially when a listing started too high or missed the market on presentation.

What Santa Monica Home Sellers Must Know

The Market Will Not Automatically Reward Ambition

The active report shows an average asking price of $5.95 million, versus an average sold price of $3.69 million.

That does not mean Santa Monica values are soft. It means seller expectations are often above what the market is actually absorbing.

If you overprice in this environment, buyers do not chase you upward. They move on.

The First Launch Matters

Because sold homes averaged 27 days on market and sold above asking on average, sellers should pay close attention to initial pricing, preparation, photography, staging, and the first two weeks of exposure.

The best outcome usually comes from:

• pricing at market, not above it
• creating urgency
• attracting multiple serious buyers early
• letting competition strengthen the final result

Presentation Still Drives Value

The higher sold price per square foot figure suggests the market is favoring homes with stronger overall appeal.

That usually means homes with:

• updated finishes
• stronger design identity
• better light
• more functional layouts
• superior curb appeal
• more compelling lifestyle positioning

Santa Monica Home Value Trends by Market Behavior

Entry to Lower Mid Range

Homes in the roughly $1 million to $2.5 million range remain highly active and can attract aggressive bidding when priced right, especially if they offer land value, renovation potential, or a compelling location.

Mid Market

The $2.5 million to $5 million band appears to be one of the most active parts of the market in both the active and sold reports.

This is where pricing discipline becomes critical. Buyers in this range are sophisticated and often comparison shop heavily.

Upper Luxury

At the upper end, Santa Monica still commands exceptional pricing, with active listings reaching $17.95 million and sold homes reaching $15.7 million during the period analyzed.

But this segment is even less forgiving of mispricing. The pool is smaller, and the buyers are more exacting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Monica Home Values

Are Santa Monica home values rising?

The data supports that strong homes are still commanding premium pricing, often above asking, especially when priced correctly and brought to market with discipline.

What is a typical home price in Santa Monica?

For this date range, the median sold single family home price was $3.05 million, while the median active asking price was $3.475 million.

Are Santa Monica homes selling above asking?

Yes. On average, sold single family homes closed at 102.72 percent of list price in this data set.

What is the average price per square foot in Santa Monica?

For these publicly available single family home sales and listings from January 1, 2026 through April 3, 2026, the average was about $1,738.55 per square foot for active listings and $1,796.10 per square foot for sold homes.

Final Takeaway: What Santa Monica Buyers and Sellers Should Do Now

The Santa Monica single family market shows a market that is:

• active
• competitive
• selective
• highly sensitive to pricing and presentation

For buyers, the lesson is clear:
Study price per square foot, understand the micro market, and move decisively when the right property appears.

For sellers, the lesson is even clearer:
The market rewards precision. The best results come from correct pricing, strong presentation, and strategic launch execution from day one.

Santa Monica is not a casual market. It is a thinking market.

And in a thinking market, results are not driven by luck. They are driven by strategy.

*This analysis is based on publicly available single family home data in Santa Monica from January 1, 2026 through April 3, 2026, using the attached CMA reports for both active listings and closed sales.