As we head into the final quarter of 2026, I want to share what I am seeing in the ranch and land market across Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties.
The headlines haven’t gotten quieter
In September, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, inflation is still running above 3%, and the average 30-year mortgage has climbed to 7.28%, its highest level in nearly three years.
Land is telling a different story
USDA’s 2026 Land Values report shows U.S. farm real estate at a record $4,500 per acre, the sixth consecutive annual increase, with California averaging $14,100 per acre, up 2.9% from last year. Pasture values rose 4.2%, outpacing cropland.
Many ranch and land purchases are made with cash or light leverage by buyers focused on long-term value, water, privacy, and usable ground. That is why this segment tends to hold steady when rate-sensitive residential markets do not.
Locally: steady, but selective
Roughly 1,150 land and rural properties totaling more than 145,000 acres are currently listed for sale across our three counties, and median time on market now runs about three to four months. Buyers have choices, and they are disciplined.
Properties that are priced accurately and presented well are still selling. Those that miss the mark sit, and the longer they sit, the more leverage the buyer gains.
Who represents you matters
In a market like this, representation makes the difference. I finished 2025 as the #1 individual agent in the Santa Barbara office of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, the #1 office in the nation in the BHHS network, and was awarded Chairman’s Circle Diamond, placing me in the top one-half of one percent of BHHS agents worldwide.
If you own ranch, agricultural, or vacant land and are considering a sale in the coming year, fall is the right time to start the conversation. A short conversation can give you a clear sense of value, timing, and how your property would be received in today’s market.
Call me at (805) 252-9267 or email jody.neal@bhhscal.com for a complimentary, confidential consultation.
Jody Neal, Ranch.Land.Estates — Chairman’s Circle Diamond, Top 1/2 of 1% of BHHS Agents Nationwide. DRE# 01995725.