US Metro Real Estate Intelligence
Rankings/San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA

Below AverageTier 1CBSA 42020Compare
Risk Rank: #269 of 287Month: 2025-12Score change (12m): -16
35score
Composite risk percentile vs 287 metros (higher = higher risk)

Cycle Phase

San Luis Obispo experienced a market correction from early 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

ExpRecExpExpExpRecHypHypExpHypHypRessHyp2019202020212022202320242025
Recovery
Expansion
Hypersupply
Recession

San Luis Obispo's housing market shows below-average risk, ranking 269th of 287 metros. The market recently entered Recovery. Current conditions are balanced with stable liquidity.

Executive Summary

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

Top Risk Drivers (This Month)

Affordability
p69 (moderate)
Mortgage payment / income
Employment
p66 (moderate)
12-month employment change (risk inverted)
Permits per Capita
p29 (below average risk)
Permits per 1,000 residents

Market Signals

Inventory is growing at a moderate +7% pace with homes taking -4% longer to sell — within normal ranges.

Liquidity

Stable
Active Listings YoY
+7.1%p56
Days on Market YoY
-3.5%p41
Months in status3
Data through Dec 2025

Valuation

Balanced
Rent vs. Price Growth
+2.8%p91
Months in status42
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 Momentum14

12-month HPI change — higher = overheating

Permit Growth13

YoY permit change — higher = supply pressure

Permits per Capita29

Permits per 1,000 residents — higher = overbuilding risk

Affordability69

Mortgage payment / income — higher = more burdened

Employment66

12-month employment change (risk inverted)

Migration20

Net AGI migration (risk inverted)

Underlying Values

MetricValuePctile
Price Momentum+0.0%p14
Permit Growth-24.5%p13
Permits/1K Pop2.40p29
Affordability0.30p69
Employment-0.1%p66
Net AGI Migration+$180Kp20
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

Cooling
YoY Permit Growth
-24.5%Below norm

Raw signal — not the composite percentile

Relative to 2016–2019 norms for this metro

Based on limited permit volume

Builders are pulling back but demand remains healthy. A supply constraint could form — fewer new units entering a market that is still absorbing well.

Liquidity

Liquidity

Stable
Active Listings YoY+7.1%
Days on Market YoY-3.5%
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
2025-1155
2025-0948
2025-0752
2025-0652
2025-0452
2025-0155
2024-1251
2024-1050
2024-0757
2024-0560
2024-0364
2024-0262
2023-1263
2023-0958
2023-0754
2023-0554
2023-0454
2023-0256
2023-0158
2022-1156
2022-0856
2022-0756
2022-0551
2022-0350
2022-0248
2021-1246
2021-1146
2021-0944
2021-0644
2021-0541
2021-0351
2021-0254
2020-1251
2020-1152
2020-0952
2020-0653
2020-0453
2020-0240
2020-0147
2019-1142
2019-0838
2019-0544
2019-0347
2019-0146
Data Vintages
Price (HPI)2025-Q3
Permits2025-12
Income2024
Employment2025-12
Migration2022