San Diego home prices (US$/m²): returns since 2012
San Diego home prices, measured as the typical value per square meter (data: Redfin). This is the value of the property itself — bricks and mortar — not an investor's total return.
It excludes rent received and all costs (closing, property taxes, maintenance, vacancy). Compare it against U.S. inflation (CPI) and the S&P 500 below to see whether San Diego real estate kept up.
San Diego is an expensive Southern California coastal market shaped by its beaches, a large military presence, biotech and tourism, with limited land between the ocean and the mountains keeping supply tight. It was among the metros that rose sharply in the mid-2000s and then fell steeply in the 2008 crash before grinding back over the following decade. Demand has long been buoyed by the climate and lifestyle premium that draws buyers from across the region, and by relative affordability compared with the Bay Area, which kept prices firmly in the upper tier.
Cumulative return by window (in U.S. dollars)
| Window | Cumulative |
|---|---|
| 1 year | -3% |
| 5 years | 24% |
| 10 years | 87% |
Largest historical drop: -16% · annual volatility: 7% . Typical home price per m² (Redfin). Excludes rent received, closing costs, property taxes, maintenance and vacancy — the value of the property itself, not the investor's total return.
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Descriptive, educational content computed from official public data. Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.