US Metro Real Estate Intelligence
Rankings/Salinas, CA

Salinas, CA

Below AverageTier 1CBSA 41500Compare
Risk Rank: #240 of 287Month: 2025-12Score change (12m): +4
40score
Composite risk percentile vs 287 metros (higher = higher risk)

Cycle Phase

Salinas experienced a market correction from mid-2025 through mid-2025. The market is currently recovering.

Recovery
Expansion
Hypersupply
Recession
In Recovery for 3 months·Previously: Recovery

Market conditions are rebuilding after a correction period

HypHypExpExpExpRecHypRessRecExpRessRessRessRec2019202020212022202320242025
Recovery
Expansion
Hypersupply
Recession

Salinas's housing market shows below-average risk, ranking 240th of 287 metros. The market recently entered Recovery. Current conditions are balanced with stable liquidity.

Executive Summary

Risk is Below Average, driven primarily by permit growth and affordability. The market is in Recovery phase. Liquidity is stable and valuation is balanced.

Top Risk Drivers (This Month)

Permit Growth
p94 (highest risk decile)
YoY permit change
Affordability
p59 (moderate)
Mortgage payment / income
Employment
p31 (below average risk)
12-month employment change (risk inverted)

Market Signals

Inventory is growing at a moderate +8% pace with homes taking -1% longer to sell — within normal ranges.

Liquidity

Stable
Active Listings YoY
+7.9%p57
Days on Market YoY
-1.3%p45
Months in status3
Data through Dec 2025

Valuation

Balanced
Rent vs. Price Growth
+1.0%p79
Months in status22
Data through Dec 2025Rent growth vs price growth (rent support). Note: Affordability and Valuation measure different structural dimensions and can diverge.
Factor Details

Factor Breakdown

Price Momentum25

12-month HPI change — higher = overheating

Permit Growth94

YoY permit change — higher = supply pressure

Permits per Capita17

Permits per 1,000 residents — higher = overbuilding risk

Affordability59

Mortgage payment / income — higher = more burdened

Employment31

12-month employment change (risk inverted)

Migration15

Net AGI migration (risk inverted)

Underlying Values

MetricValuePctile
Price Momentum+0.8%p25
Permit Growth+51.1%p94
Permits/1K Pop1.82p17
Affordability0.28p59
Employment+0.7%p31
Net AGI Migration+$242Kp15
National ContextDoes not affect score

Credit Conditions

Credit Regime

Stable

Healthy recovery. Credit is flowing normally and transactions are steady — conditions favor continued rebuilding.

Bank Lending Standards
-5.7Normal
Rate Change (YoY)
-74 bpsNormal
Mortgage Risk Premium
+189 bpsElevated
Stable for 8 quartersData through 2026-Q1

Supply Pipeline

Supply Regime

Accumulating

Supply pipeline is building up while credit remains available. New units are accumulating in the system — watch for delivery pressure in coming quarters.

Pipeline Ratio
0.91High
Completion-Permit Divergence
-3.2 ppNormal
Accumulating for 3 quartersData through 2025-Q4
Local SignalsDoes not affect score

Metro Permit Activity

Permit Activity

Surge
YoY Permit Growth
+51.1%Far above norm

Raw signal — not the composite percentile

Relative to 2016–2019 norms for this metro

Based on limited permit volume

Permit activity is surging and demand is absorbing it. Both sides of the market are running hot — monitor for overheating if liquidity shifts.

Liquidity

Liquidity

Stable
Active Listings YoY+7.9%
Days on Market YoY-1.3%
AssessmentBalanced conditions
Stable for 3 monthsData through Dec 2025
Internal Structure

County-level structural analysis.

County-level structural analysis is not available for this metro due to fewer than 3 qualifying counties.

Score History
MonthScore
2025-1136
2025-0936
2025-0741
2025-0639
2025-0431
2025-0336
2025-0135
2024-1236
2024-1040
2024-0942
2024-0738
2024-0533
2024-0344
2024-0138
2023-1039
2023-0836
2023-0642
2023-0339
2023-0140
2022-1133
2022-1033
2022-0934
2022-0733
2022-0533
2022-0332
2022-0132
2021-1136
2021-1036
2021-0839
2021-0540
2021-0354
2021-0153
2020-1149
2020-1048
2020-0846
2020-0548
2020-0339
2020-0140
2019-1150
2019-0946
2019-0739
2019-0639
2019-0540
2019-0348
2019-0249
2019-0148
Data Vintages
Price (HPI)2025-Q3
Permits2025-12
Income2024
Employment2025-12
Migration2022