Housing Market Report
Imperial County, CA
Data through February 2026 · Updated monthly
Homes are selling quickly with few price cuts
Avg Home Value
$368,623
▲ 6.9% year-over-year
Days to Pending
18 days
Homes For Sale
225
Avg Rent/Month
$1,636
▲ 2.4% year-over-year
The Imperial County, CA housing market is continuing to appreciate. The average home value is $368,623, up 6.9% year-over-year as of February 2026. Homes are spending a median of 18 days on the market before going pending. 0.2% of active listings have had a price cut.
Imperial County leans toward a seller's market, with 0.4% of homes selling above list price and 0.4% selling below. There are currently 225 homes for sale in the county, with 60 new listings hitting the market each month. The median sale-to-list ratio is 100.0%.
The average asking rent in Imperial County is $1,636 per month, up 2.4% year-over-year. For investors, the gross rent multiplier on a median-priced home is approximately 18.8, indicating moderate cash flow potential.
For homebuyers, the estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Imperial County with 10% down is $2,287. That is $651 more per month than the average rent, making renting the more affordable short-term option. Homes are selling 1.4% above asking price on average, reflecting competitive bidding.
Bottom-tier homes (under the 33rd percentile) are currently valued at $274,156, making them the primary target range for investors looking at wholesale deals, fix-and-flip projects, or BRRRR strategies.
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Market Snapshot
Imperial County Housing Market at a Glance
Key metrics for Imperial County as of February 2026. Year-over-year changes show how the market has shifted in the last 12 months.
| Metric | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Feb 2026 | 3-Mo Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Home Value | $363,965 | $366,447 | $368,623 | ▲ 1.3% |
| Single Family Value | $366,752 | $369,258 | $371,446 | ▲ 1.3% |
| Median List Price | $375,667 | $375,000 | $374,667 | ▼ 0.3% |
| Avg Rent/Month | $1,687 | $1,625 | $1,636 | ▼ 3.0% |
| Homes For Sale | 220 | 223 | 225 | ▲ 2.3% |
| New Listings | 68 | 62 | 60 | ▼ 11.8% |
| % Listings w/ Price Cut | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | ▼ 5.6% |
Home Values
Imperial County Home Value Trend (2000–2026)
All-home median values including the 2008 housing crash, 2020 COVID surge, and 2022 rate shock. Switch between All Homes, Single Family, Bottom Tier, Top Tier, and Rent to compare trends.
Source: Zillow Research ZHVI / ZORI · Updated monthly
Market Breakdown
What Homes Cost in Imperial County
Home values broken down by bedroom count, ZIP code neighborhood, and property type. 3-bedroom homes are valued at $355,317 in Imperial County.
| Bedroom Count | Avg Value | Last 30 Days | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Bedrooms | $256,918 | ▲ 0.3% | ▲ 7.4% |
| 3 Bedrooms | $355,317 | ▲ 0.4% | ▲ 6.9% |
| 4 Bedrooms | $423,483 | ▲ 0.6% | ▲ 6.8% |
The table above reflects average home values and rent in Imperial County, broken down by bedroom count, neighborhoods, and property types. Data sourced from Zillow Research.
Market Tiers
Buyer vs. Investor Segments
Bottom-tier homes (under 33rd percentile) are the primary target for wholesale investors using the 70% rule. In Imperial County, bottom-tier homes are valued at $274,156.
Bottom Tier
Under 33rd percentile
$274,156
▲ 8.8% YoY
Wholesale / investor range
Mid Tier
33rd-67th percentile
$368,623
▲ 6.9% YoY
Typical buyer range
Top Tier
Over 67th percentile
$468,349
Luxury / high-end
Market Activity
Supply, Demand and Pricing Power
How quickly homes are selling, how many are available, and whether sellers or buyers have the upper hand in Imperial County.
Homes For Sale
225
60 new/month
% Sold Below List
0.4%
0.4% sold above
% Listings w/ Price Cut
0.2%
$10,250 median cut
Median Days to Close
29 days
18 days to pending
Median List Price
$374,667
Median Sale Price
$380,000
100.0% sale-to-list
Affordability
Monthly Cost to Own in Imperial County
Estimated mortgage payments on the median-priced home at current rates. Compare against the average rent of $1,636/month to evaluate buy vs. rent.
| Down Payment | Est. Monthly Payment |
|---|---|
| 5% down | $2,913/mo |
| 10% down | $2,786/mo |
| 20% down | $2,286/mo |
Avg rent in this market: $1,636/month · Mortgage estimates based on Zillow data at prevailing rates
Rental Market
Rent Trends in Imperial County
Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) tracks typical asking rent, controlling for quality mix. Rent in Imperial County is up 2.4% compared to last year. At current prices, the price-to-rent ratio is 18.8x annual rent.
Avg Asking Rent
$1,636
Year-over-Year
+2.4%
▲ 2.4%
Month-over-Month
+0.7%
▲ 0.7%
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.8x
Rent trend (ZORI)
Source: Zillow Research ZHVI / ZORI · Updated monthly
Metro Context
Imperial County vs. El Centro
How Imperial County compares to the broader El Centro metropolitan area.
| Metric | Imperial County | Metro Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Home Value | $368,623 | $368,641 |
| Days to Pending | 18 days | -- |
| % Sold Below List | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Avg Rent/Month | $1,636 | $1,636 |
Nearby Markets
Other Counties in CA
Explore home values and trends in other CA counties. Compare markets to find investment opportunities.
Alameda
$1,066,409
▼ 5%Last year
Rent: $2,741/mo
Alpine
$496,539
▼ 2%Last year
Amador
$409,647
▼ 3%Last year
Rent: $1,900/mo
Butte
$396,204
▲ 1%Last year
Rent: $1,600/mo
Calaveras
$425,903
▼ 5%Last year
Rent: $1,974/mo
Colusa
$362,951
▼ 1%Last year
Contra Costa
$777,724
▼ 5%Last year
Rent: $2,702/mo
Del Norte
$357,518
▼ 1%Last year
Rent: $1,577/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources and Methodology
Market data on this page comes from the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), updated monthly by Zillow Research. ZHVI measures the typical home value for a given region based on Zillow's proprietary automated valuation model, smoothed and seasonally adjusted to remove noise. ZORI measures the typical observed market-rate rent across the region, controlling for quality mix changes.
Sale price, inventory, days-on-market, and sale-to-list metrics are sourced from Zillow Research public data releases. All data is refreshed on the 17th of each month. This report was last updated February 2026.
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