October 21, 2025

San Diego County’s Luxury Real Estate Rankings Drop

News Summary

San Diego County has fallen in the PropertyShark rankings of the 100 most expensive ZIP codes, now standing at six to five. Rancho Santa Fe leads the county at No. 10 with a median sales price of $4.99 million. Other notable ZIP codes include Del Mar, La Jolla, Cardiff, and Coronado. The decline reflects changing buyer interests and market conditions, while foreign buyers are increasingly drawn to San Diego’s luxury properties. Despite this, high-value transactions continue, signaling a competitive luxury real estate market.

San Diego County has experienced a decline in rankings on PropertyShark’s annual list of the 100 most expensive ZIP codes, falling from six to five this year. The list, which is based on closed sale prices from January 1 to September 30, shows all local ZIP codes featured have median sale prices over $2.4 million.

Rancho Santa Fe (92067) leads the county at No. 10 with a median sales price of $4.99 million, dropping from its previous position of No. 9 last year. Alongside Rancho Santa Fe, the other San Diego ZIP codes that made the list include Del Mar (92014) at No. 47 with a median price of $2.7 million, La Jolla (92037) at No. 60 with a median price of $2.5 million, Cardiff (92007) at No. 67 with a median of $2.45 million, and Coronado (92118) at No. 68 with a median price of $2.4 million.

This year, Carmel Valley narrowly missed the list, finishing just $50,000 off the qualifying threshold. Various factors are contributing to this shift in rankings, including changing buyer preferences and market conditions.

The property landscape in San Diego County is seen as attractive to wealthy buyers seeking more privacy compared to other regions like Los Angeles and Orange County. Notably, there has been a noticeable uptick in interest from foreign buyers, particularly those from Mexico City, Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong, who increasingly view San Diego as a safe investment option.

In context, California claims a significant dominance in the high-end real estate market, representing 61% of the 100 most expensive ZIP codes on PropertyShark’s list. For comparison, Atherton in San Mateo County ranks No. 2 in California with a median sales price of $8.3 million, while Miami Beach tops the national list at $9.5 million.

San Diego’s reduced presence on this list is reflected when compared to other counties. Los Angeles County boasts 17 ZIP codes on the list, followed by Santa Clara County with 15, Orange County with 12, and New York’s Suffolk County featuring 10.

Historical data shows the changing fortune of Rancho Santa Fe within the rankings. Over the years, it has fluctuated between various positions, from No. 26 in 2016 to No. 10 now, indicating a persistent yet volatile luxury market in the region. Other rankings include Del Mar falling from No. 40 to No. 47 this year, while La Jolla made a notable rise from No. 74 to No. 60, marking the second-largest increase among local ZIP codes. Cardiff experienced the largest jump, moving from No. 82 to No. 67.

Coronado, on the other hand, faced the most significant decline, dropping from No. 57 to No. 68. This area recently witnessed a high-profile sale of a mansion for $24.1 million at auction, which had initially been listed at $43 million.

Despite these changes, San Diego County continues to see high-value transactions, including the sale of a ranch estate in Rancho Santa Fe for $17.5 million. This estate includes luxurious features such as a gourmet kitchen in the barn and scenic views of the horse riding trails, initially listed for $21 million.

To address the luxury market demand, the Del Mar office of Douglas Elliman recently opened, indicating a strategic expansion focus within California’s luxury real estate segment.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

San Diego City Council Approves Redevelopment for Affordable Housing
San Diego City Council Approves Housing Complex at 101 Ash St
ASID San Diego Launches ‘Summer Spruce Up’ Program
San Diego County Home Prices Remain Flat Amid Market Shift
Pro-Housing Advocates Push for Reduced Lot Sizes in San Diego
Luxury Home Sales Slowdown in San Diego County
Record Residential Sale Achieved in Rancho Santa Fe
California Leads Nation in Need for High-Income Rentals
New Monteverdi Community Opens in Corona, California

Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER

The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.

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