Oakland condo market shows signs of rebound in 2026

New bridgeMLS data shows Oakland’s condo market is improving in 2026 after a softer 2025, with faster sales, higher sale prices and sellers getting closer to asking price. The shift could matter for buyers and sellers watching whether the city’s housing market is moving back toward 2023 and 2024 levels.

Why it matters: - Oakland condo pricing and sales momentum are improving after a weak 2025. - Buyers still have room to negotiate because median prices remain below 2023 and 2024 levels. - Sellers are seeing better conditions, with more homes selling and fewer listings expiring unsold.

What happened: - bridgeMLS released new data on Oakland condo transactions covering four years of market activity. - The data shows the median condo sale price reached $492,500 year-to-date in 2026. - That is up 3.7% from $475,000 in 2025. - The 2026 median remains below the $540,000 median recorded in both 2023 and 2024. - Median days on market fell to 32 days in 2026. - That is down 20% from 40 days in 2025. - The 2025 figure was the slowest median pace in the four-year dataset. - The sale-to-list price ratio rose to 100.75% in 2026. - That compares with 99.87% in 2025, when the market dipped below asking price for the first time in the review period. - 52.8% of condo listings have sold so far in 2026, up from 48.5% in 2025. - The share of listings expiring unsold fell to 14.0% from 16.8%.

The details: - Patricia Bennet, chair of bridgeMLS, said buyers still have opportunities because prices have not fully returned to 2023 levels. - Bennet said sellers who have been waiting may find 2026 a better time to list than 2025. - Tia Hunnicutt, interim CEO of bridgeMLS, said hyperlocal data matters because national reports do not capture block-by-block shifts in Oakland. - bridgeMLS said East Bay real estate professionals rely on its data as an authoritative source for local market trends. - bridgeMLS said its listing data is often more useful to local buyers and sellers than national trend reports.

Between the lines: - The rebound looks measured, not dramatic, because prices are rising while still sitting below recent peak levels. - Faster sales and a sale-to-list ratio above 100% suggest sellers have regained some leverage. - The improvement in expired listings points to tighter matching between buyer demand and active inventory.

What’s next: - Oakland buyers and sellers are being encouraged to work with a local REALTOR® who has direct access to current bridgeMLS listing data. - Future market direction will likely hinge on whether price growth continues and whether sales activity stays above 2025 levels. - The gap between 2026 pricing and the 2023-2024 peak remains a key benchmark to watch.

The bottom line: - Oakland’s condo market is recovering, but it has not fully returned to its recent highs.