April Market Update

March 2026 Real Estate Market Update

Sonoma & Napa Counties

March gave us a clearer picture of where the market is heading, and the biggest takeaway is this: momentum is building, but it’s not happening evenly across every price point or location.

In Sonoma County, the market is picking up speed. The median sales price came in at $875,000, up 2% from last year, while days on market dropped to 40 days, a 23% improvement. That’s a big shift. Homes are selling faster, and more of them are actually closing, with 266 sold properties, up 14%. At the same time, inventory remains relatively tight with 1,034 active listings, which is helping keep pressure on buyers.

Drilling down locally, Santa Rosa continues to lead in activity. The median price rose to $815,000, and homes are moving in about 34 days on average. With 367 active listings and nearly 100 homes sold in March alone, this is a market where properly priced homes are not sitting.

Petaluma is moving even faster. With a median price of $1.11M and just 22 days on market, this is one of the most competitive areas right now, especially for homes under that $1.2M range. Sebastopol saw a noticeable jump in pricing as well, with the median hitting $1.23M, driven largely by low inventory.

On the other hand, areas like Healdsburg are moving at a slower pace. With a median price of $925,000 and 62 days on market, buyers are taking more time, especially in higher price points. This is where strategy, presentation, and pricing really start to matter.

In Sonoma Valley, inventory is increasing, with 180 active listings, but homes are still selling faster than they were earlier this year, averaging 57 days on market. It’s a more balanced environment, but still active.

Over in Napa County, the story is a little different.

The median sales price came in at $900,000, down 10% year over year, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Buyer activity is picking up, with pending sales up 27% and closed sales up 23%. Inventory has also increased to 461 active listings, giving buyers more options than we’ve seen in a while.

The City of Napa is sitting around a $893,000 median price with homes taking about 84 days to sell. It’s a steadier, more patient market.

Meanwhile, Windsor stands out as one of the strongest performers this month. The median price jumped to $959,000, homes are selling in just 24 days, and inventory remains tight. It’s competitive without being chaotic.

At the higher end, St. Helena remains a slower, more selective market. With a median price around $1.87M and limited sales, buyers are being more intentional, and homes are taking longer to move.

What It All Means

The market is not slowing down, it’s just becoming more strategic.

Homes in the entry-level and mid-range price points are moving quickly, especially in areas like Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and Windsor. Inventory is still limited enough to create competition, and buyers are acting when something is priced right.

At the same time, higher-end properties are taking longer and require a more thoughtful approach. Pricing, presentation, and marketing are no longer optional, they’re everything.

If you’re thinking about selling this year, timing matters less than strategy. The homes that are winning right now are the ones that hit the market positioned correctly from day one.