The past few years have been challenging for homebuyers in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, with rising home prices and higher mortgage rates putting a strain on many budgets. But here’s what you need to know: locally, the number of homes for sale has grown significantly—and that’s true for both existing homes and new builds. Whether you’re eyeing a cozy starter home in Riverside or a spacious family home in San Bernardino, these positive trends in our local market could make it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for.
1. There Are 22% More Existing Homes for Sale
Recent data from Realtor.com shows that existing home inventory is up by an impressive 22% in 2024 across many markets, including our own in the Inland Empire. In San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, this increase means more options—from established neighborhoods with mature landscaping to homes with unique character that you might not have seen in past years. And there’s more good news: experts are forecasting an additional 11-15% growth in inventory by the end of the year.
As Ralph McLaughlin, Senior Economist at Realtor.com, puts it:
“It could be a particularly good time to get out into the market . . . you’re going to have more choice. And that’s not something that buyers have really had much over the past several years.”
More choices mean a better chance of finding a home that truly meets your needs—whether that’s an updated kitchen, a spacious backyard for the kids, or proximity to top-rated schools in Riverside or San Bernardino.
2. There Are More Newly Built Homes on the Market
In our counties, the trend is similar when it comes to new construction. Data from the Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) indicates that roughly 31.1%—or about 1 in 3—of homes on the market right now are newly built. Local builders in San Bernardino and Riverside are busy catching up after years of underbuilding, especially in communities where there’s high demand for modern, efficient living spaces.
And here’s the best part: builders have been focusing on creating smaller, more affordable homes that cater to a range of budgets. In many cases, new builds in our region are priced competitively—sometimes even on par with pre-owned homes. As CNET notes:
“If you live in an area where there’s a lot of new construction happening . . . you might be able to purchase a new house for a price similar to or even less than a pre-owned one.”
If you’ve been limiting your search to only pre-owned homes, you might be missing out on about a third of the options available in our local market.
Bottom Line
For homebuyers in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, the surge in both existing and new home inventory could be the key to unlocking your homebuying goals in 2025. With more choices on the table—from charming older homes to sleek, modern new builds—now is a great time to explore the market in our area.
Ready to take the next step? Reach out today to see what’s available in and around our communities.
What features are you looking for in your next home? Let me know, and I’ll put together a personalized list of homes that fit your wishlist perfectly.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
