The Santa Clarita real estate market continues to shift, but one of the biggest stories I'm seeing right now is the difference between single-family homes and condos.
According to the August 2026 Santa Clarita Valley residential market snapshot, the overall median sales price was $810,000, up 1% year over year.
But when we separate single-family homes from condos, the numbers tell a much more interesting story.
Santa Clarita Single-Family Home Prices Remain Strong
The median sales price for a single-family home in Santa Clarita was $865,000 in August 2026, down just 3% compared with the previous year.
Considering the higher inventory, longer market times and affordability challenges buyers are facing, Santa Clarita single-family home values have remained relatively resilient.
For homeowners thinking about selling, this is important. The market has changed, but that does not mean homes aren't selling.
194 residential properties closed during August, while the average days on market increased to 50 days, two days longer than the previous year.
Homes may take longer to sell, and buyers have more options than they did during the extremely competitive markets of previous years. That makes accurate pricing, condition and marketing increasingly important for Santa Clarita sellers.
Santa Clarita Condos Are Feeling More Pressure
The condo market is a different story.
The median condo sales price in Santa Clarita was $520,000 in August 2026, down 10% year over year.
As a Realtor who works extensively with condos and townhomes, I've seen firsthand how financing can affect these transactions.
One challenge affecting certain Santa Clarita condo complexes is non-warrantable condo financing.
What Is a Non-Warrantable Condo?
A non-warrantable condo is generally a condominium that does not meet certain eligibility requirements used by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac for conventional financing.
There are several reasons a condominium project may be considered non-warrantable or otherwise present financing challenges. The issue can relate to factors involving the HOA, insurance, litigation, reserves, commercial space, ownership concentration or other project requirements.
This doesn't necessarily mean there is something wrong with the individual condo.
It means financing the property may be more complicated.
How Does a Non-Warrantable Condo Affect Buyers?
When a condo does not qualify for standard conventional financing, buyers may need to use a lender that offers non-warrantable condo loans or another financing option.
Depending on the lender and loan program, these loans may require a larger down payment, additional cash reserves, different underwriting requirements and potentially a higher interest rate than standard conventional financing.
For example, some non-warrantable condo loan programs may require a buyer to put at least 10% down, although requirements vary considerably by lender and property.
This can shrink the buyer pool.
A buyer who planned to put 3%, 5% or another lower down payment on a condo may discover that the particular complex requires a completely different financing strategy.
And when affordability is already a major concern for buyers, a larger down payment or higher mortgage rate can make the property less attractive.
Why Condo Financing Matters When Selling a Condo
If you're thinking about selling a condo in Santa Clarita, understanding your complex's financing situation is extremely important.
Before listing, I want to understand questions such as:
Is the complex currently warrantable? What financing options are buyers using? Are there HOA insurance concerns? What are the HOA reserves? Are there assessments? Have similar units recently had financing problems?
These issues can directly affect how many buyers are realistically able to purchase the property.
A condo may look perfectly priced based on previous comparable sales, but if the available financing has changed, those older comparable sales may not tell the entire story of today's market.
That's why condo sellers need to pay close attention to current competing inventory, recent closed sales, financing availability and days on market.
Could Santa Clarita Condos Be an Opportunity for Investors?
For investors, this market is worth watching.
The financing challenges affecting some condo complexes can create a disadvantage for traditional financed buyers—but cash investors don't face the same mortgage qualification hurdles.
With the Santa Clarita condo median sales price down 10% year over year in August, investors may find opportunities that weren't available when condo prices were higher and buyer competition was stronger.
That doesn't automatically make every condo a good investment.
Investors should still evaluate the purchase price, HOA dues, rental restrictions, insurance, special assessments, expected rent, vacancy, maintenance expenses and potential resale value.
But for a cash real estate investor searching for Santa Clarita investment properties, condos are one segment I would be paying close attention to right now.
Santa Clarita Housing Inventory Reaches 4.5 Months
Another major change is inventory.
Santa Clarita had 882 active residential listings in August, while the market reached approximately 4.5 months of inventory.
At the same time:
- 332 new listings came to market, down 3% year over year.
- 176 properties went pending, down 27% year over year.
- 194 properties closed, down 11% year over year.
- Average days on market reached 50 days.
The decline in pending sales is particularly important. Buyers have more choices and are taking their time.
For sellers, that means simply putting a property on the MLS and waiting may not be enough. Pricing strategy matters in the 2026 Santa Clarita housing market.
What Does the Santa Clarita Market Mean for Sellers?
If you're considering selling a home in Santa Clarita, don't assume the market is bad simply because inventory has increased.
Single-family home prices have remained relatively strong, but buyers have become more selective.
Sellers should pay attention to the newest comparable sales—not just what a neighbor sold for six months or a year ago.
For condo sellers, financing conditions within your specific complex can be especially important.
The longer a property sits without activity, the more important it becomes to evaluate the price, competition, condition and marketing strategy.
What Does the Market Mean for Santa Clarita Buyers?
For buyers, increased inventory can mean more choices and potentially more negotiating opportunities than during an extremely competitive seller's market.
Depending on the property and seller motivation, there may be opportunities to negotiate the purchase price, closing-cost credits or even a seller credit toward a mortgage rate buydown.
Condo buyers should speak with their lender early in the process to determine whether a specific complex qualifies for their financing.
Don't wait until you're already in escrow to start asking questions about condo eligibility.
Santa Clarita Real Estate Market FAQ
What is the median home price in Santa Clarita in 2026?
For August 2026, the overall Santa Clarita Valley residential median sales price was $810,000. The median price for single-family homes was $865,000, while the median condo sales price was $520,000.
Are Santa Clarita home prices going down?
It depends on the property type. In August 2026, the overall residential median sales price was up 1% year over year. However, single-family homes were down 3% year over year, while condos were down 10%.
This is why buyers and sellers should look at their specific property type and neighborhood rather than relying solely on an overall Santa Clarita statistic.
How long does it take to sell a home in Santa Clarita?
The average residential property spent 50 days on market in August 2026, approximately two days longer than the same period the previous year.
Individual results vary based on neighborhood, price, property type, condition and competition.
Is Santa Clarita a buyer's or seller's market in 2026?
Santa Clarita had approximately 4.5 months of residential inventory in August 2026. Rather than relying solely on a broad buyer's-market or seller's-market label, it's important to look at the individual market segment.
A single-family home in one Santa Clarita neighborhood can face very different conditions from a condo in another community.
Why are some Santa Clarita condos difficult to finance?
Certain condo complexes may not meet conventional project eligibility requirements, which can limit the financing available to buyers.
Depending on the situation, buyers may need non-warrantable condo financing, which can have different down-payment, reserve, underwriting and interest-rate requirements.
Can you buy a non-warrantable condo with cash?
Yes. A cash buyer does not need mortgage approval to purchase the property.
However, cash investors should still perform due diligence on the HOA, insurance, financials, reserves, assessments, rental restrictions and other factors that could affect the investment or future resale.
Are Santa Clarita condos a good investment right now?
Santa Clarita's median condo sales price was $520,000 in August 2026, down 10% year over year. That price movement may create opportunities for some investors, particularly cash buyers who are not affected by mortgage eligibility requirements.
Whether an individual condo is a good investment depends on the purchase price, expected rent, HOA expenses, assessments, rental restrictions and the investor's financial goals.
Buying or Selling in Santa Clarita?
The August numbers reinforce something I tell my clients constantly: there isn't just one Santa Clarita real estate market.
Single-family homes are behaving differently from condos. Individual neighborhoods are behaving differently from one another. And even two condo complexes across the street from each other can have very different financing requirements.
If you're thinking about buying a home in Santa Clarita, selling a Santa Clarita home, purchasing a condo or investing in Santa Clarita real estate, understanding your specific segment of the market matters more than simply looking at one headline number.
Jessica Ranuschio | Broker/Owner, Home661
DRE #01987956
Market statistics are based on the August 2026 Southland Regional Association of REALTORS® Santa Clarita Valley residential market snapshot. Loan requirements vary by lender, loan program, borrower and condominium project. Buyers should confirm current financing requirements with a qualified mortgage lender.