In 2019, Ventura County’s housing market was relatively stable after years of gains. The annual median price of existing homes sold was approximately $658,125 (C.A.R. data). Monthly medians fluctuated roughly in the $580,000–$660,000 range depending on the source and month (CoreLogic/DQNews and C.A.R. reports commonly cited figures near $580K–$657K late in the year). Inventory typically ran 3.5–5+ months of supply, sales were moderate, and days on market often hovered around 45–55. Mortgage rates were higher than the ultra-low pandemic era that followed, and the market was transitioning from strong seller conditions toward more balance.

By mid-to-late 2026 (data through roughly August), typical home values and median sale prices have risen substantially. Zillow’s typical home value stood near $872,000 (up modestly year-over-year), Redfin reported a recent three-month median sale price around $867,000, and other reports showed monthly medians in the mid-$800Ks to low-$900Ks (with some peaks near $990K earlier in the year). This represents roughly a 32–50%+ nominal increase from 2019 levels, depending on the exact metric and timing (far outpacing general inflation over the period, though growth slowed markedly after the 2020–2022 surge). Inventory has increased from pandemic lows but remains relatively tight at roughly 2.8–3.7 months of supply in recent data—still favoring sellers overall or balanced rather than a clear buyer’s market. Homes often go pending in the mid-20s to around 49 days. Sales volumes have recovered somewhat from the rate-driven slowdown of 2022–2024 but remain below some earlier peaks.

Main drivers of the change: Strong post-2019 demand (including pandemic shifts), limited new supply constrained by geography and regulations, lower rates earlier in the decade that fueled rapid appreciation through 2021–2022, followed by higher rates that cooled volume and moderated further gains. By 2026 the market had stabilized at a much higher price level with gradually improving inventory.

• Affordability remains challenged. Higher absolute prices offset some of the rate relief that occurred earlier in the cycle.
• Local variation is significant: higher-end areas (parts of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Ojai) command premiums; more affordable pockets exist in Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and Santa Paula.
• Outlook notes from recent reports: Modest further appreciation is commonly forecast if rates ease and inventory expands gradually; the market is no longer in the extreme seller’s territory of 2020–2022 but is not a deep buyer’s market either.