November 2025 Hi-Desert Real Estate Market Update

Greetings, Real Estate Fans,

First a gratuitous plug. Debbie and I own a small graphic business. The graphics are reproductions of historic events, places, and businesses in and around our part of the Hi Desert. We have a partner who prints our graphics on all types of items like apparel, totes, hats, mugs, mouse pads, and many others. Last month we started a new marketing campaign focused around a “podcast” from local urban legend, Yucca Man. Yucca Man is a Big Foot type character that roams the Mojave Desert. For each item, we share the history of where the item is from or for. You can see the podcast on our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@SolStrainsYuccaMan They make great gifts!

As for our local real estate market, it sucks! Last month, in October, we closed escrow on just 64 homes. This is well below the 86 we closed last year. At this time, it looks to me that we will not close over 900 homes for the year. This will be the lowest amount for annual sales since I have been keeping records (2013).

At this time, it is hard to see what will turn this around. The media would like us to think that lower interest rates will do the trick. First, they are not low enough and I see nothing in the future that indicates any major movement on rates. Second, locals need to be able to afford the community. At this time, it appears this is a major issue. Local people cannot afford the community they live in. In October, 50% of sales were in Twentynine Palms. That is a major change for our market. It makes sense though. The average price of a home last month in Twentynine Palms was around $100,000 below Yucca Valley and $125,000 below Joshua Tree. Today I was showing homes in Twentynine Palms. My client could buy a newer (built since the turn of the century) home for well under $200 per square foot. In both the homes I showed, the list price was around $250,000! This makes Twentynine Palms worth the extra commute. This is the first time I have seen Twentynine Palms eclipse Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree combined.

In addition, the most expensive home sold was just $800,000. List prices are correcting down but at a very slow rate. At this writing, we have around 720 active listings. Look for that number to drop close to 600 as we enter the new year. This year the cost of housing continued to rise even though sales plummeted. 

Our vacant land market is also in a slump. We have around 1,150 active vacant land listings. Last month we saw the most sales of vacant land this year at 44 sales. This equates to an over two-year inventory of land. Lots of great deals on land right now!

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. As always, if you or someone you know need help in this complicated market, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Bob Armstrong
(760) 221-2999
DRE #01275801
GREEN Real Estate Group