Updated September 29, 2026. By Vikas Shah, CA DRE #02235333 | 408-650-3463
August 2026 did not produce one uniform Bay Area market. Across these nine selected cities, detached medians ranged from $1.56 million in Fremont to $4.9123 million in Los Altos; combined condo/townhome medians ranged from $700,000 in San Jose to $1.685 million in Palo Alto. Property category and sample size matter as much as the city name.
Nine city reports, one common month
| City | Detached median / sales | Condo + townhome median / sales |
|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto | $4,005,000 / 32 | $1,685,000 / 9 |
| San Jose | $1,575,000 / 331 | $700,000 / 137 |
| Sunnyvale | $2,555,000 / 41 | $1,175,000 / 32 |
| Milpitas | $1,775,000 / 10 | $1,127,000 / 16 |
| Santa Clara | $1,825,000 / 39 | $1,000,000 / 25 |
| Mountain View | $2,550,000 / 12 | $985,000 / 21 |
| Cupertino | $3,319,500 / 20 | $1,197,500 / 7 |
| Fremont | $1,560,000 / 75 | $736,500 / 31 |
| Los Altos | $4,912,300 / 21 | $1,600,000 / 3 |
Source: Aculist / MLSListings City Stats reports, August 2026, retrieved September 29. These are nine selected cities, not a weighted nine-county Bay Area index. Attached housing combines condos and townhomes. No separate townhome median is inferred from this table. The URL retains the original August 2025 wording to preserve existing links; this page’s current analysis is explicitly August 2026.
The market pace differed by property type
| City | Detached median DOM | Attached median DOM |
|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto | 11 | 31 |
| San Jose | 14 | 26 |
| Sunnyvale | 8 | 19 |
| Milpitas | 14 | 23 |
| Santa Clara | 10 | 47 |
| Mountain View | 7 | 8 |
| Cupertino | 12 | 8 |
| Fremont | 14 | 45 |
| Los Altos | 7 | 56 |
DOM means days on market in the source report. A median describes the middle closed transaction, not the promised selling time for a new listing. Santa Clara’s attached median was 47 days compared with 10 for detached homes; Sunnyvale’s corresponding figures were 19 and eight. Price, condition and the transaction mix still determine the relevant competition.
Three year-over-year comparisons with limits
| Category | Aug. 2025 median | Aug. 2026 median | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose detached | $1,557,500 | $1,575,000 | About +1.1% in the median; not every home appreciated by this amount |
| Sunnyvale detached | $2,780,000 | $2,555,000 | About −8.1%; compare the mix before calling it a property loss |
| Palo Alto detached | $3,600,000 | $4,005,000 | About +11.3%; 39 prior-year sales versus 32 current-year sales |
These percentages are calculated from the report’s medians. They are not repeat-sales measures and do not establish a causal trend. The small Los Altos attached sample of three sales is particularly unsuitable for a confident month-to-month forecast.
What buyers can do with this information
- Use the category median to choose a realistic search range, then price the actual home from comparable sales.
- Compare payment and HOA coverage when moving from detached to attached options; a lower price does not reveal the full monthly cost.
- Prepare financing and disclosure review early in faster segments, without assuming that speed justifies taking an unpriced risk.
What sellers can do with this information
Separate your comparable sold homes from today’s active competition. A city’s attached-market slowdown does not automatically apply to a renovated detached house, and a fast citywide median does not excuse overpricing. Revisit the pricing plan using showing feedback, condition differences and new comparable evidence. The valuation tool below is a starting estimate, not the final list-price recommendation.
What this report does not claim
It does not forecast interest rates, guarantee appreciation, measure neighborhood safety or establish the value of a particular home. September 2026 is not presented as a complete closed month. Future monthly reviews will replace figures only when a dated source is available and the update improves the decision.
Related guides and next steps
- San Jose Neighborhood Guide
- See the latest Bay Area listings
- Request a Consult
- Find Bay Homes mortgage calculator
- Find Bay Homes property valuation tool
- California Home Buying Process Explained Step by Step: 2026 Guide
- Complete Milpitas Home Buyer Guide 2026: Prices, Neighborhoods & What to Expect
Discuss your property, budget and timing with Vikas Shah, CA DRE #02235333, FindBayHomes | Doorlight Inc., CA DRE #02219383. Call 408-650-3463 or email vikas@findbayhomes.com. Calculations and online valuation tools are estimates, not loan approvals or guaranteed sale prices.
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