Strong Seller's Market
Cooling Down

Palo Alto Market Update

Palo Alto is one of the most competitive markets in the Bay Area right now. Here's what you need to know:

Competition is easing. Conditions may improve in coming months.

Most active Palo Alto neighborhoods · sorted by recent sales volume

Median Sale Price
$3.21M
-9.6% YoY
42 sold this month
Down $342K from last year
Days on Market
13 days
+3d YoY
Homes sell in a week or two
Sale-to-List Ratio
105.3%
from 105.7%
Selling 5% above asking
Active Inventory
69
· 1.6 mo. supply
Very low. Limited options for buyers
Sold Above List
67%
18pp YoY
2 in 3 homes get competing offers
Price Drops
13%
-4pp YoY
Sellers rarely reduce their price
Off Market in 2 Wks
63%
7pp YoY
Most go pending within 2 weeks
Monthly Payment
$16,003
· 6.37% · 30yr fixed
Principal & interest only on a 20% down $3.21M home. Add ~30–40% for property taxes, insurance, and HOA.
30-yr Fixed6.37%
15-yr Fixed5.74%
Rates are down from the 2023 peak but still elevated historically. A 1% drop would save ~$1,640/mo on the median Palo Alto home. Your actual rate depends on your credit, down payment, and loan type.

Market Trends

Median Sale Price
Down 9.6% year-over-year. The market is adjusting after recent highs.
What You'd Actually Pay Per Month
Monthly cost has eased 17% year-over-year, giving buyers slightly more room.
30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate (National Avg.)
Currently at 6.37%. Your actual rate depends on your credit, down payment, and loan type. This is the national average. Want to know what rate you'd qualify for? I work with great lenders.

What Clients Say

★★★★★

“Working with Mel was the best decision I made in my home-buying journey. She was incredibly patient, taking the time to explain every detail of the process to me.”

Brianna McColm · Bought in Sunnyvale, 2026
★★★★★

“I work in commercial real estate with many different agents and I can proudly say that Mel is above the rest.”

Jenn Hendowski · Bought in North San Jose, 2026
★★★★★

“Mel did an incredible job helping me find and purchase my first home! She was very responsive, professional, and knowledgeable.”

Analese Steverson Pugh · Bought in Santa Clara, 2025
★★★★★

“Working with Mel was a fantastic experience from start to finish. We were immediately impressed by her active listening and her ability to translate our needs.”

Sona Balsam Ragubathy · Bought in Fremont, 2025
★★★★★

“Mel did an amazing job helping us buy our first home. When we first met her, we had done literally zero of the steps needed to buy a house, and 28 days later we closed.”

kellywmauser · Bought in Santa Clara, 2025

See all reviews on Zillow →

Melanie Tan
Melanie Tan
8 Blocks Real Estate · DRE #02250755
“I track these numbers every week so my clients don't have to. If you're thinking about buying or selling in the Bay Area, let's look at the data together and figure out your best move.”

Let's talk about Palo Alto

Market data: Redfin Data Center · Rates: FRED / Federal Reserve · Updated weekly · Data through Feb 2026
© 2026 Melanie Tan, 8 Blocks Real Estate · DRE #02250755