The latest Desert Housing Report for Oct. 2025 reveals a robust market for Palm Desert with slightly higher prices and a higher inventory compared to last year. Palm Desert is one of only two cities that saw price increases last month compared to the year before.
Driving the news: Palm Desert and Cathedral City were the only two valley cities that saw the median price for a detached home increase. The median price of an average-sized detached home in Palm Desert is up 1.6% to $712,000. For an attached home in Palm Desert, the median price is $497,000, down about 6% compared to last year.
Valley-wide, the median price of a detached home is down 1.6% year-over-year to $625,000. Attached home prices decreased 2.2% overall to $420,000.
Context: Sales valley-wide are below average by about 28% compared to pre-pandemic norms. Palm Desert had the second highest unit sales at 101 units, behind only Palm Springs at 118 units.
By the numbers: Valley-wide, inventory at the start of this month was 3,233 units, a 15% increase compared to last year. Palm Desert inventory started the month at 674 units, second-highest in the valley behind Palm Springs and a 23% increase compared to last year.
What they’re saying: “Inventory has been improving, and current numbers are now comparable to inventory before the pandemic,” the report notes. “The seasonal pattern shows a high inventory at the turn of the year and low inventory in late Summer.”
What they’re saying: “Inventory has been improving, and current numbers are now comparable to inventory before the pandemic,” the report notes. “The seasonal pattern shows a high inventory at the turn of the year and low inventory in late Summer.”
What to watch for: Market observers note that further developments will depend on mortgage rate movements and broader economic conditions. All eyes are on the Federal Reserve’s meetings on Dec. 9 and 10 where hopes of a rate cut are diminishing.