October 2025 Hi-Desert Real Estate Market Update

Pumpkin Greetings Real Estate Fans,

Fall is in the air. Temperatures are dropping and so are sales in our real estate market. After reviewing the numbers, I think we will be hard pressed to close over 900 properties this year! Last year we closed 917 throughout our marketing area. I have been producing my Market Updates since 2013. This will be the lowest sales tracked by me.

There is a lot going on in our local market. In May we had over 900 active listings. Over the last several months, sellers have removed their properties from the active market. In this Update we have 702 active listings. I have noticed that at this writing (10/08) we have 716. We have seen a small down tick in interest rates. Watch for inventory to drop a little as Agents encourage sellers to wait a little while and to pause listings to reset long days on market. If rates continue to drop and our government can get back on track, look for a positive spring market.

I don’t comment on it very often, but I added a page to the Update that tracks vacant land listings and sales. In our communities, vacant land sales can sometimes show us the future. Since almost all our housing is built custom (not tract development), builders and homeowners looking to custom build their houses drive our vacant land market. Generally speaking, builders that believe sales are increasing will add to their inventory of land. This Update shows vacant land sales are in the dumpster. For most of the year now inventory has been around 1,200 active listings with just around 30 sales a month. If you are a real estate junkie, vacant land sales should be tracked.

Some highlights in this Update include-

1. It is interesting to compare what is average from month to month. Since the boom in 2020, more and more our average home is on acreage. This month all three major markets’ sales averages are over an acre of land.
2. In 2021/2022 the average price per square foot in Joshua Tree was between $425 and $475. In September it was $269.13!
3. Consistently, Yucca Valley’s average sale is a three bed, two bath home. In Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, this varies month to month between two bed, one bath or two bed, two bath and sometimes a three bed and two bath.
4. Last month the average days active on the market in Joshua Tree was 242 days. In other words, on average it took over 8 months to sell a home in Joshua Tree!

As always, if you know someone looking to buy or sell in our communities, please share my contact information. I would be honored to help. 

Sincerely,

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