California is often regarded as a state lacking in affordable housing, thanks to a paucity of available units, skyrocketing mortgage and rental rates and a rather dizzying cost of living.
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However, there may be hope on the horizon for those looking to purchase or invest in real estate in The Golden State — per a recent real estate forecast for 2025 performed by Realtor.com, housing availability will be on the upswing in the new year. The real estate surge is predicted to take place primarily in the South and the West, including states like California, a state with 10 regions in Realtor.com’s top 100 of 2025.
While only one California region cracked the top quarter of cities (with Riverside/San Bernardino coming in at No. 25), the state managed a solid showing in the top 100.
Keep reading to find the best California real estate markets of 2025.
See four other markets that could soar in 2025.
Riverside
- Also includes: San Bernardino and Ontario
- 2025 existing home sales counts year over year: 11.4%
- 2025 existing home median sales price year over year: 8.8%
- Combined 2025 existing home sales and price growth: 20.2%
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Oxnard
- Also includes: Thousand Oaks and Ventura
- 2025 existing home sales counts year over year: 8.2%
- 2025 existing home median sales price year over year: 8.0%
- Combined 2025 existing home sales and price growth: 16.2%
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Stockton
- Also includes: Lodi
- 2025 existing home sales counts year over year: 6.2%
- 2025 existing home median sales price year over year: 9.8%
- Combined 2025 existing home sales and price growth: 16.0%
Bakersfield
- 2025 existing home sales counts year over year: 9.9%
- 2025 existing home median sales price year over year: 6.0%
- Combined 2025 existing home sales and price growth: 15.9%
Sacramento
- Also includes: Roseville, Arden and Arcade
- 2025 existing home sales counts year over year: 5.2%
- 2025 existing home median sales price year over year: 8.9%
- Combined 2025 existing home sales and price growth: 14.1%
Find Out: 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years
Fresno
- 2025 existing home sales counts year over year: 8.1%
- 2025 existing home median sales price year over year: 5.1%
- Combined 2025 existing home sales and price growth: 13.2%
San Francisco
- Also includes: Oakland and Hayward
- 2025 existing home sales counts year over year: 4.6%
- 2025 existing home median sales price year over year: 7.5%
- Combined 2025 existing home sales and price growth: 12.1%
San Diego
- Also includes: Carlsbad
- 2025 existing home sales counts year over year: 3.4%
- 2025 existing home median sales price year over year: 7.3%
- Combined 2025 existing home sales and price growth: 10.7%
Find More: 20 Best Cities Where You Can Buy a House for Under $100K
Los Angeles
- Also includes: Long Beach and Anaheim
- 2025 existing home sales counts year over year: 4.2%
- 2025 existing home median sales price year over year: 5.5%
- Combined 2025 existing home sales and price growth: 9.7%
San Jose
- Also includes: Sunnyvale and Santa Clara
- 2025 existing home sales counts year over year: -10.3%
- 2025 existing home median sales price year over year: 4.0%
- Combined 2025 existing home sales and price growth: -6.3%
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 2025 Real Estate Forecast: Top 10 Markets in California
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