View homes for sale in Altadena, CA with real estate agent Amy Engler.
Altadena, CA Housing Market Trends
In June 2025, Altadena’s housing market showed signs of significant cooling, with home prices dropping by 30.5% year-over-year to a median of $1.0M. This steep decline suggests a market correction following previously overheated price levels, potentially driven by shifting buyer sentiment, higher borrowing costs, or a recalibration of value in the area. The slight increase in days on market—from 27 to 31 days—indicates homes are taking longer to sell, hinting at reduced urgency among buyers. Additionally, with only 24 homes sold compared to 32 last year, overall demand appears to be softening. Together, these trends point toward a more cautious and price-sensitive market environment in Altadena.
Despite a sharp year-over-year price decline, Altadena remains a highly competitive market in June 2025, signaling that well-priced homes continue to attract strong buyer interest. The fact that many listings receive multiple offers—sometimes with waived contingencies—shows that demand is still concentrated around desirable properties. While the average home sells at around list price in 35 days, hot homes are commanding up to 6% above asking and going under contract in just 21 days. This contrast suggests a bifurcation in the market, where buyers are willing to act aggressively for quality or well-located homes, even as the broader market adjusts to new pricing realities.
Altadena, CA remained a seller’s market in June 2025, reflecting tight inventory and sustained buyer demand despite broader price declines. The imbalance between supply and demand means sellers still hold leverage, particularly for well-maintained or competitively priced homes. This dynamic helps explain the continued presence of multiple offers and fast-moving hot listings, even as the overall number of sales and median prices drop. In essence, motivated buyers are still competing, just more selectively—underscoring a market that favors sellers, but rewards strategic pricing and presentation.
Have questions about buying or selling a home in Altadena? Whether you're navigating your first purchase or preparing to list your property, Amy's here to help. Contact Amy Engler anytime for personalized guidance and local expertise you can trust.
Relatively affluent but mixed. Many Altadena neighborhoods sit well above the Los Angeles–area median income and home-value figures — the community’s median household income was about $129k (2023), which is higher than the LA metro average, and owner-occupied homes have median values above $1M in some datasets. That said, Altadena is socioeconomically mixed: there are historic, wealthy estate pockets (large lots, foothill views) alongside long-standing middle-class neighborhoods — and recent disasters (the Eaton Fire) have complicated the local wealth picture and put stress on historically Black homeowners who built generational equity here.
Yes — housing is the biggest driver. Multiple market trackers put Altadena’s typical home values around the $900K–$1.1M range in 2025 (different sites measure sale price vs. list price vs. “home value”), and those prices make Altadena more expensive than the national average and comparable to pricier parts of the San Gabriel Valley. Keep in mind local factors that raise living costs: steep wildfire/rebuild risk after the Eaton Fire (affecting insurance and construction costs), plus high demand for lots with mountain views. For recent snapshots, see Redfin, Realtor.com and Zillow market pages.
That depends on what you’re after — but for many people the answer is yes. Pros: direct access to the San Gabriel foothills (excellent hiking, Echo Mountain/Echo Mountain ruins and trails), strong neighborhood identity, holiday and community traditions (e.g., Christmas Tree Lane), and quick access to Pasadena and greater L.A. Cons: wildfire exposure and the costs/uncertainty of rebuilding, patchy county (unincorporated) services compared with an incorporated city, and recent market/displacement pressures after the fires. Schools are served largely by Pasadena Unified (so families often find good public school options). Overall: great for outdoor lovers, people who want larger lots and a quieter foothill vibe; less ideal if you need the absolute lowest insurance premiums or want a fully urban core.
A few signature reasons:
Christmas Tree Lane (Santa Rosa Avenue) — a long-running, nationally recognized holiday lighting tradition and California historical landmark.
Mount Lowe / Echo Mountain history — turn-of-the-century incline railway and resort ruins that draw hikers and history buffs.
Scenic foothill setting and trail access (Eaton Canyon, San Gabriel Mountains), plus a strong history of early Southern California estates. These cultural and natural features are the town’s calling cards.
Yes — the market softened in 2025 compared with the prior year, but context matters. Redfin showed a sharp year-over-year drop in median sale price in mid-2025 (large percent change for some months), Realtor.com and Zillow also reported declines or softer listing metrics — and sales volume and days-on-market shifted in many Altadena zip areas. Part of the change reflects broader market cooling, and part reflects local disruption from the Eaton Fire (huge numbers of burned or distressed lots have hit the public records), which temporarily changes inventory and buyer/seller behavior. In short: recent data show a pullback; that doesn’t automatically mean long-term values will fall forever — local rebuilding, interest-rate moves and buyer demand will matter.
It’s a mixed buyer pool: owner-occupiers and families seeking larger lots and foothill views have long been a core group, and local demand also comes from buyers priced out of central Pasadena or other L.A. neighborhoods. In 2025 a notable trend — widely reported — is that developers and investors (often using trusts/LLCs or corporate names) have been buying a significant share of fire-damaged or distressed lots, which changes both the character of transactions and longer-term housing supply. So: a combination of traditional owner-buyers, local/institutional investors, and developer activity in the wake of the fires.
Contact Amy today for expert guidance, local insights, and personalized support. Whether you have questions or you're ready to explore available properties, Amy is here to help you navigate the Altadena market with confidence.
Thinking of moving to Altadena or just exploring your options? Start with our comprehensive neighborhood guide. From local housing trends to lifestyle highlights, everything you need to know about living in Altadena is just a click away.
As a consistent top producer within her brokerage Amy is a hardworking and trustworthy real estate professional who makes sure that her clients receive the great service they deserve.
